CAM Magazine Special Issue 2008: The Best of Michigan Construction

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FALL 2008 VOL. 29 • NO. 11 • $4.00

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Letter from the Editor

elcome to our 13th edition of the Special Issue,“Construction 2008”. Since 1996,
W CAM Magazine has been showcasing the most outstanding commercial construc-
tion projects in Michigan. This yearly issue is our way of honoring excellence and
achievement in building, performed and conceptualized by the many talented individuals
who make up this industry.
This year’s Special Issue Awards will be presented on the second day of CAM Expo 2009, which
will be celebrating its 25th anniversary next year. We hope you will come out and join us at
this special event on Thursday, February 5, 2009. The awards ceremony will begin at 11:30 am,
and will be immediately followed by a contractors’ reception for our attendees. There are
many reasons to celebrate, and we hope to see you there!
Until then, please enjoy this edition of the Special Issue,“Construction 2008”.
Amanda Tackett, Editor
SPECIAL FALL EDITION 2008

10 The Grand River Dream Cruise
Motor City Casino Lights Up the Night
24 Terminal Velocity
The North Terminal Redevelopment Project
32 Rx for Change:
Metro Health Writes Prescription for
the First LEED Hospital in the Midwest
46 A Mall for All

The Mall at Partridge Creek
56 High-End Design Inside and Out

Chase Plastic Services, Inc.
4 CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008

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SPECIAL FALL EDITION 2008

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MGM Grand Builds Entertainment Destination
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90 Triangulating in Birmingham
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SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 7
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PUBLISHER Kevin N. Koehler

EDITOR Amanda M. Tackett
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR E. Dewey Little
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Mary E. Kremposky

David R. Miller
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Matthew J. Austermann

COLOR MANAGEMENT/PRINTING Rick Rys
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Marci L. Christian
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Gregg A. Montowski
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Cathy A. Jones
DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Chairman Jeffrey W. Cohee,
Frank Rewold & Son, Inc.
Vice Chairman Rick J. Cianek,
Fraco Products
Vice Chairman Ted C. McGinley,
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Treasurer Robert J. Michielutti Jr.,
Michielutti Bros., Inc.
President Kevin N. Koehler
DIRECTORS Stephen J. Auger,

Stephen Auger + Associates Architects
Brian J. Brunt,
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James C. Capo,
DeMattia Group
Brian D. Kiley,
Edgewood Electric, Inc.
R. Andrew Martin,
F.H. Martin Constructors
John O'Neil, Sr.,

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Glenn E. Parvin,
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2003, 2006 Honorable Mention
CAM Magazine (ISSN08837880) is published monthly by the Construction Association of Michigan, 43636 Woodward
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SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 9
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SI 2008 1-23 10/2/08 10:29 AM Page 10
PHOTO © JOHN E. SOKOLOWSKI/GIFFELS
M
MOTOR CITY CASINO LIGHTS UP THE NIGHT
BY MARY E. KREMPOSKY, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
otor City Casino is the ulti- rooflines and its restored terra cotta is the Structurally, Giffels-NORR, Detroit/
mate hybrid. This entertain- reinforced concrete structure of the origi- Toronto, as architect-of-record, married
ment hub is part building, nal Wagner Baking Company building, the new casino addition to the old Wagner
part car with its sleek stain- the massive roof trusses of two new addi- Building by employing an uncommon
less steel façade resembling a curved fend- tions, and the atypical staggered truss sys- application of carbon fiber-reinforced
er, its sinuous roofline evoking the hood tem of the new hotel. polymer strips. Aesthetically, the brick
and tail fins of a 1960s muscle car. The Both aesthetically and structurally, “some and ornate terra cotta of the gracious old
building is a classic roadster in more than daring things were done in the creation of building, circa 1915, fuses with the gleam
appearance. Muscle car and building both these buildings,” said Brian Deming, PE, of contemporary metal and the glow of
embody style and power. Under the hood senior project manager, Michigan Industrial LED lights at night. The entire campus –
of those stylized tail fins and the glint of Group (MIG), the Detroit-based construc- new hotel, renovated casino and expan-
all that chrome are the powerful engines tion manager for Detroit Entertainment sion, valet building, and restaurant and
built in Detroit’s heyday when cars were LLC’s amazing entertainment venue on theater complex – is a stylized composi-
as big as a boat and as streamlined as a Grand River Avenue in Detroit. tion in brick and stainless steel, bringing
bird in flight. Beneath the almost aerody- The project team’s daring approach is to life the detailing of a classic car and the
namic flow of the buildings’ ribbon-like evident throughout the complex. historical details of a vintage building.

SI 2008 1-23 10/2/08 10:29 AM Page 11
struction workers at its peak, according to rated very closely with MIG, because the
Construction of this approximately information supplied by Giffels-NORR. design was evolving as construction
DRAG RACING AT MOTOR CITY
800,000-square-foot entertainment com- Design was essentially concurrent with moved forward.”
plex was split into four different “pit construction. Detroit Entertainment LLC
crews” or design and construction teams, enlisted the services of Chip Foose, the
each tasked with the job of creating one renowned muscle car designer and host of MIG put its engines into high gear,
STORY-HIGH STEEL AND HAUTE CUISINE
phase of the four-phase project under the the popular television series, installing the hotel foundations as the first
guidance of a core management team. “Overhaulin,” to work with the project milestone in a three-year journey. The
Phase I is the 400-suite, 17-story hotel, team beginning in February 2006. While hotel rests on 36 drilled piers, each meas-
housing a spa, fitness center, an ultra Foose worked on bringing the magic of uring 6.5 feet in diameter and reaching
lounge named Amnesia, and a four-dia- “tail fins and chrome” back to the Motor 135 feet through Detroit’s soft clay to
mond restaurant called Iridescence. City, MIG and Giffels-NORR worked on bedrock. The core foundations were
Phase II is the renovation of the temporary the structure and shell of the casino addi- placed in two, 4-foot-thick mass concrete
casino housed in the old Wagner Building tion and hotel. pours that now blanket the top of the
– once home to the Wonder Bread factory The creation of this new city landmark drilled piers. The concrete shear walls of
– since 1999, and the construction of a was an intense, collaborative effort. the monolithic elevator and stair towers
two-story casino expansion producing a “Ultimately, the project used an integrated were built almost to their full height
total of 100,000 square feet of gaming design approach,” said Panici. “Chip before MIG began “lacing together” the
space. Phase III almost triples the size of Foose, Genesis Associates, the project’s four towers - two each on the east and
the existing Continental Building for a interior design firm based in Santa Ana, west ends - with 46 staggered trusses, said
total of 208,000 square feet of buffet, ball- California, and ourselves all worked as a Deming.
room, restaurant, and convention space, collaborative team on the design. We had “It was a coordination issue,” added
as well as a 1,200-seat theater. Phase IV is separate contracts, but we all fed off of Deming. “Rather than coordinating the
a four-story, 60,000-square-foot valet each other’s ideas with everyone provid- two different concrete and steel trades, it
building linking an existing parking deck ing input on interior and exterior design. was faster to let the concrete trade finish
to the casino proper and housing retail We then amalgamated all the concepts and then let the structural steel crew work
shops and restrooms. into a cohesive design. We also collabo- on its own.”
Expansion of this gaming hub also
entailed construction of a new 933-car
parking deck behind the hotel, as well as a
new network of pedestrian bridges link-
ing all the structures within this mini-city.
The enclosed bridges keep Michigan’s
fickle weather at bay and solve two other
concerns. “We added bridges to connect
all four buildings at the second-floor
level,” said Frank Panici, principal of
Toronto-based NORR Limited and project
manager for Giffels-NORR. “We had to
make these second-floor connections to
ensure efficient circulation, and also to
make sure underage patrons, who are not
allowed into the casino proper, can bypass
the casino and attend theater events or
enter other parts of the complex.”
MIG began providing scheduling, esti-
mating, feasibility studies and other pre-
construction services in June 2005, said
Deming. Like a dragster with a powerful
engine, MIG broke ground on the hotel
foundations in November 2005, followed
by foundations for the casino expansion
only a few weeks later, and delivery of the
casino expansion in July 2007. “The
Continental Building was two months fur-
ther out in terms of construction and foun-
dations,” said Panici. “At one point, we
PHOTO BY JEFF WHITE
had all four projects underway at the

same time.” This roughly $275 million
project averaged about $12 million dollars
worth of construction activity per month,
Shifting colors bathe an array of clear acrylic tubes, transforming the casino interior into a
and employed approximately 700 con-

magical playground of light. The hollow tubes have solid sandblasted end caps at the bottom
and interconnected LED lights on a “light string” at the top of each tube.
Visit us at www.cam-online.com CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008 11

SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 12
Giffels-NORR developed the staggered the fifth-floor truss. rant’s expansive windows, and the moon
truss system to meet the tight schedule. The whole point of this system of stag- glows just beyond the bold sweep of the
“We had to come up with a structural sys- gered trusses and hollow-core planks is hotel’s curved stainless steel parapet.
tem that could be erected quickly and that swift erection and versatile design Modeled after the details of a 1949
was familiar to the trades in the local options, for the system provides column- Mercury, the sleek curvature of this stain-
area,” said Panici. Information supplied free interior space for the hotel interior. less steel ribbon has become the trademark
by Giffels-NORR explains the staggered “For the hotel, the staggered steel trusses of this new entertainment venue. “We
truss system, an approach not commonly were spaced at 30-foot on center on alter- were seven stories in the air in terms of
employed in Michigan: “Story-high truss- nate floors. The design resulted in col- hotel construction when Chip Foose came
es span between exterior column lines and umn-free space of approximately 75 feet up with the concept that the hotel roof
adjacent trusses are vertically staggered by 60 feet on any one given floor,” accord- should look like the fender of a classic car
such that the floor slabs span from the top ing to Giffels-NORR. “…Traditional com- with its sloping, curvilinear metal fins,”
chord of one truss to the bottom chord of posite steel beams and girders supporting recalled Panici. “As a result of this con-
the adjacent truss. The staggered steel cast-in-place concrete slabs on metal deck cept, Foose, Genesis and Giffels-NORR
trusses support 10-inch-thick precast, pre- compose” the non-residential areas of the designed this undulating, out-of-phase
stressed hollowcore slabs for the residen- hotel. Whaley Steel Corporation, Mio, was roof structure (meaning the steel lines on
tial floors.” the steel and precast erector. opposite sides of the building are not par-
Deming draws a mental picture of the allel, one being lower than the other).”
staggered grid, “If you hypothetically This rare sculptural roofline is a mar-
numbered the steel columns, trusses Iridescence, one of Motor City’s premier riage of imagination and technology. This
NASA COMES TO THE MOTOR CITY
would span columns one and two on the restaurants, is one of the hotel’s “non-res- 304-foot-long ribbon of steel was designed
fourth floor, and columns two and three idential areas.” Iridescence shimmers at and constructed using BIM technology.
on the fifth floor.” Overall, the trusses the very top level of the hotel tower. With Specifically, the project team used CATIA,
form a checkerboard pattern of truss and well over a hundred clear small globes a computer-modeling software first used
clear space. Continuing this example, one suspended from a 40-foot ceiling, eating at by NASA and adapted by the automotive
portion of a hollow core plank would rest Iridescence is like dining inside of a bottle industry. “The only way we could get this
on top of the fourth-floor truss and the of champagne. At night, the city glitters roof designed and meet the schedule and
other portion would rest on the bottom of like a jeweled carpet below the restau- budget was by using BIM and CATIA

SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 13
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SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 14
adapted to the building industry,” said

Panici.
In July 2006, the project team trans-
formed a sketch from Chip Foose into a
3D model, bringing NASA technology
back to Earth and its result into the hands
of the firms entrusted to craft this metal
masterpiece for Motor City. The services
of Quality Metalcraft, Livonia, an automo-
tive metal fabricator with CATIA experi-
ence and a strong working relationship
with Foose, were enlisted to help the team
“develop the complex shape of the
roofline and to detail the irregular sur-
faces, integrating all the stainless steel sur-
faces and structural members,” according
to information supplied by Giffels-NORR.
“We exported the 3D model to Quality
Metalcraft by the end of September 2006,”
said Panici. “They put it into their com-
puter modeling system and created shop
drawings or a model that reflected our
design. The completed model was trans-
ferred to the various subtrades, allowing
the information to be integrated directly
into the manufacturers’ fabrication
process, reducing both production and
construction time and preserving design
intent.”
Steel fabrication of this 181-ton wing of
steel began in October 2006. “The pieces
were fabricated in 30-foot segments of
stainless steel and checked for fit in a
warehouse before shipment to the job-
site,” said Deming. An entire team of sub-
contractors helped bring this one-of-a-
kind roof to life. Bristol Steel & Conveyor
Corporation, Davison, fabricated and
erected the structural steel for the curved
roof, as well as the mechanical and restau-
rant mezzanine; Aristeo Construction Co.,
Livonia, partnered with Quality
Metalcraft to engineer, fabricate and
install the stainless steel ribbon roof that
measures from 3 feet to 8 feet in height.
The Wagner Baking Co. building, hous-
ing the casino proper, features an even
more complex, chevron- or V-shaped rib-
bon roof used as a corner element. “Plus,
this entire curved roof of stainless steel
and glass is sitting on top of an almost 100-
year-old building, so in some aspects, it
was more challenging to construct than the
hotel roof,” said Deming. Fortunately, the
sophistication of CATIA software readily
formed the chevron shape, and the vintage
building’s reinforced concrete structure
easily managed the additional load.
In turn, MIG readily managed multiple
theaters of construction on this active job-
site. MIG was finishing the hotel under
the protective canopy of a temporary roof

SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 15
installed on the 16th floor, while a flurry

of companies were immersed in designing
the hotel ribbon roof. Work also contin-
The new hotel’s roofline
ued unabated on the existing casino and

and diamond-shaped accents
its two-story expansion.

echo details of the Wagner
Baking Company building,
originally built in 1915.
The project team’s out-of-the-box think-

MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE
ing solved another conundrum: how to

extend a portion of the two-story casino
addition over a one-story section of the
original Wagner Building, without
installing any shoring. Converting the
original Wagner roof into a new floor in
this one section (the Wagner Building is
composed of four, two and one-story sec-
tions) entailed pouring a 9-inch-thick con-
crete floor slab with a 4-inch drop panel,
an operation typically requiring a shoring
system on the first floor to support the
roof during the pour. Unfortunately, a
shoring system on the ground level would

bring gaming to a halt in this area for one
to two weeks.
Anthony DeStefano, Giffels-NORR
structural engineer, came to the rescue
with a plan to reinforce the roof with car-
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SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 16
bon fiber-reinforced polymer strips. “The

strips increase the capacity of the roof to
take the load of the poured concrete until
that concrete settles and becomes part of
the concrete structure,” said Panici.
“Essentially, the strips acted almost like a
shoring strategy for the existing concrete.”
POLISHED STAINLESS POLISHED BRASS
RASS SATIN STAINLESS
The carbon strips are typically used in

U UNIQUE METAL PRODUCTS, INC. California to reinforce concrete structures
against seismic activity, or to reinforce
concrete bridges and other infrastructure,
M WHEN FINISH & APPEARANCE ARE PARAMOUNT added Deming. “Akins Construction is
CUSTOM FABRICATOR the subcontractor that installed this SIKA
P product line,” he added. “We had manu-
SPECIALIZING IN HIGHER END METALS facturers representatives observe the
installation and inspect the technique.”
Linking the Wagner Building to the new
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STEEL addition kept the team on its toes. “We
had to open up the building and look at
TEEL
what was there, reacting in real time as far

as how the connections could be made,”
1921 Hilton
Ferndale, Michigan 48220 said Deming. “We worked closely with
the architects and engineers, particularly
since the floor plate of the building is tri-
(248) 545-4566
angular rather than a conventional square
or rectangle.”
Fax (248) 545-2767
Building the casino and the Continental
fzammit@uniquemetals.com
Building additions shared two common
COPPER
OPPER COPPER
concerns: installation of massive roof

G2_CAM_v1_06 8/28/06 9:48 AM Page 1
trusses and maintenance of existing casino

operations. The second floor of both addi-
tions is hung from heavy steel roof trusses
measuring 100 feet in length and 10 feet in
WE'RE
GEOTECHNICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL depth. The triangular shape of the casino
addition added another layer of complex-
CONSTRUCTION ity to the installation of the six massive
trusses that provide 100-foot spans of col-
ENGINEERS.
ENGINEERING
umn-free space on the second-level. The
clear spans make room for unimpeded
gaming and for the mesmerizing light dis-
plays continually flitting across the ceiling
WE HATE of the casino’s main floor. “Hanging the

second floor from the roof also created a
column-free zone for the loading dock
located in a section of the addition’s first
SURPRISES.
All of us at G2 share a single-minded obsession with unearthing every obstacle
level,” said Deming. In the Continental
Building, the roof trusses clear the first
floor for column-free ballrooms, confer-
ence and banquet rooms.
and opportunity on your site. We design precise solutions that make it all MIG had to mix the business of con-
struction with the gaming zeal of casino
patrons, meaning construction had to be
work – before you’re in too deep.
constantly tailored around the 24/7 oper-

ations of an active casino. “When we
Troy, MI: 248.680.0400
erected the trusses in the casino they had

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Chicago, IL: 847.353.8740 to clear the public from that first-floor
gaming area for a time,” said Deming.
“We also had to reroute emergency exits,
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because building the addition impacted

this area. Plus, we had to work around the
loading dock, since the second floor of the
UNEARTHING POSSIBILITIES casino addition is basically built over the

SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 17
PHOTO BY JEFF WHITE
A 20-foot-high stainless steel façade and a veneer wood finish form

the dazzling entry to Motor City Casino’s high limit gaming area.
The entry is on a radius, both horizontally and on its vertical slope.
loading dock. We erected the structural steel frame to a safe con-

dition, allowing the casino to open up their dock and allowing us
to begin installing interior finishes on the second floor.”
In the Continental Building, MIG phased the project around the
operations of the casino’s bustling buffet. “We had to stagger con-
struction and work closely with operations so that they could con-
tinue to run their eatery, while we were constructing a building
almost triple the size of the original Continental Building,” said
Deming.
The Dream Cruise lasts forever at Motor City Casino thanks to

RESTORING A CLASSIC
the force of design and the skill of the construction team. The
sheen of stainless steel panels blankets nearly half of the casino
and Continental Building additions. The conventional bound-
aries of a building dissolve under the broad arc of rounded pan-
els virtually transforming the two structures into the body of a
classic car.
The stainless steel panels stretch along the length of the new
additions and extend across a portion of the existing buildings.
Folded aluminum composite metal panels with rows of LED
lighting complete this unique building integument where brick
meets metal and old terra cotta meets contemporary lighting tech-
nology. “We essentially created an amalgamation of old and
new,” said Panici.

SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:08 PM Page 18
Amalgamating metal to vintage brick a sense of Old World grace to the new
required installation of a new truss sub- addition’s VIP porte-cochere. The terra
structure on the exterior of the existing cotta ornamentation complements the
buildings. “The original Wagner Building three different brick patterns – standard,
and Continental Building are reinforced soldier course and basket weave – form-
concrete structures, so we penetrated ing the street-level façade of all the cam-
through the brick to reach the structure to pus buildings, said Deming.
support the trusses and the new metal With its gable-shaped coping and dia-
panels,” said Deming. mond pattern insets, the hotel’s two brick
MIG also restored portions of the towers match the original detailing of the
Wagner Building’s original brick façade Wagner Building. Both of the 18-story
and its beautifully detailed terra cotta towers are formed of hand-laid brick with
ornamentation. Laser scanning, an inno- a decorative glass infill, said Deming. The
vative, high-definition type of surveying, hotel towers ranked as one of the largest
was used to evaluate the exterior masonry bricklaying projects in the region at the
of the 80-year-old façade and to accurate- time of construction, he added.
ly capture existing conditions. “The Similar to the two additions, the street
plumbness and soundness of the existing or pedestrian level features decorative
brick was very important for analyzing brickwork in a basket weave pattern. “It
PHOTO BY EMIN KADI

the renovation repairs needed and to is not just the amount of brick work on
retrofit the existing structure,” according the project, but the detail of the brick
to information supplied by Giffels-NORR. work that is something you don’t often
The renovation brought back to life the see,” said Deming. Added Panici, “We
With well over a hundred clear globes
building’s original decorative elements, used contemporary adaptations of the
suspended from a 40-foot ceiling, eating
including terra cotta wheat stalks and ears brick patterns that are on the original
at Iridescence is like dining inside a
of corn with each kernel carefully detailed Wagner Building. We worked with Leidal
champagne bottle. At night, the city glitters
on the cob. These terra cotta medallions & Hart Mason Contractors, Livonia, to
like a jeweled carpet 16 stories below this
were replicated in cast stone and now add develop the brick façade and to get the
four-diamond-rated restaurant located atop
Motor City’s 400-suite hotel.

SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:09 PM Page 19
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SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:09 PM Page 20
brick technical details down.”

The monolithic towers flank the hotel’s
extensive glass curtain wall system, offer-
ing panoramic views from every room.
The new hotel stretches along an east-
west axis, exposing the full expanse of its
broad southern façade to the Detroit sky-
line. “The presidential suites have a great
view of the Detroit skyline,” said Panici.
As a full service Carpentry & “The whole design of the hotel tower and
its orientation was to take advantage of
these views.”
Architectural millwork company we
Motor City Casino now adds its own
utilize integrated technology to deliver
strong presence to the Detroit skyline. By
higher value to our clients. Estimating,
Shop Drawings and Real Time Scheduling day, the wonderful synergy of brick and
are linked to state-of-the-art woodworking stainless steel is in full view. Driving the
machinery. Our technology investment Lodge at night, the LED-lit expanse of
Motor City Casino rises suddenly above
the freeway, its kaleidoscope of colors
reflects our commitment to clients;
adding a welcome glow to the urban
quality and value you can depend on.
tableau.
These ribbons of light are installed in
successive rows in the hotel’s curtain wall
system and in the folded aluminum com-
posite panels of the casino. Nearly 4,800
custom veneer work high-intensity, programmable LED light
custom veneer work tubes are installed along the exterior of the
wood doors&& frames hotel and casino. “The fixtures use less
than half the power of incandescent lights,
wood doors
custom frames
custom veneer work
last up to 15 years, and are capable of pro-
veneer work
laminate/post
laminate/post forming
forming
ducing 16.7 million colors,” according to
wood doors & frames
wood doors & frames
information supplied by Giffels-NORR.
Overall, the buildings produce the illu-
A PLAYGROUND OF LIGHT
sion of a muscle car in motion. The theme

and the magic continue in the building
interior. The main gaming floor on the
second level of the new casino addition is
awash in LED lights and subtle references
to the automotive world, all designed
with style, imagination and a sense of
Brunt Associates, Inc.
play. LED lights race along a curved arc of
48953 Wixom Tech Drive,
silver-painted, formed fiberglass panels
Wixom, MI 48393
installed along one edge of the main gam-
(248) 960-8295
ing floor. Adding to this 24/7 light show
Fax: (248) 960-8296
www.BruntAssociates.com on the ceiling, shifting colors bath an
Jeff Gantz
array of clear acrylic tubes above another

Raplh Rexroat
gaming area.
Phil Treinen, project manager of Genesis
Jeff Gantz
Interior Design, explains: “The tubes are

Raplh Rexroat
hollow with solid sandblasted end caps at

the bottom with interconnected LED
Jeff Gantz lights on a ‘light string’ at the top of each
Raplh Rexroat tube. The tubes are staggered at various
lengths to create a wave shape across the
Jeff Gantz
bottom, which accentuates the movement
Raplh Rexroat
of the changing LED colors. The LEDs are

controlled via a computer interface. One
of the exciting aspects of this LED technol-
ogy is that each individual light can be
addressed as a pixel and controlled indi-

SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:09 PM Page 21
vidually or in various groups, allowing a

wide variety of effects, including the dis-
play of video images and a changing array
of colors.”
This magical playground of light gives
Motor City visitors a unique gaming
experience. “One of the things we wanted
Motor City to express was the vibrancy
and “beat” of Detroit,” said Treinen. “The
design team, which also included our
client, wanted to employ features that
hadn’t been done before and set a new
level of ‘cool.’ The LED lighting was
designed to represent the party atmos-
phere we wanted the casino to have, and
allowed a vibrancy and playfulness remi-
niscent of the ‘60s and ‘70s without being
a throwback to the design idioms of that
PHOTOGRAPH BY MARCI CHRISTIAN, CAM MAGAZINE

The project included cleaning and restora-
tion of the Wagner Baking Company build-
ing’s ornate terra cotta accents. The terra
cotta medallions were replicated in cast
stone and installed on the casino addition’s
VIP porte-cochere entrance, blending the
grace of a vintage historical building with
the casino’s contemporary glitz.
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SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:09 PM Page 22
period. Essentially, the desire was for the

casino to be a fun, exciting place to play
as opposed to a more formal or themed
facility.”
The automotive theme subtly infiltrates
the gaming space. “You can find elements
evocative of automotive trim in the casino,
including ornamentation over the Players
Club, which are abstracted forms of car
bumpers and side scoops,” said Treinen.
Genesis distilled its design from quintes-
sential elements of Detroit, including the
concept cars of the ‘50s and ‘60s and the
city’s rich musical heritage. “We adopted
a design credo of ‘future retro,’ to provide
the design ethos for the project,” said
Treinen. “This meant incorporating clas-
sic ‘50s and ‘60s elements, and updating
them, along with softening some of the

more current influences.”
The main construction challenges were
the high level of finishes and the sheer
height of some of the interior spaces. “In
the casino, the entrance to the high limit
gaming is a stainless steel façade and
A Motor City original, the sinuous sweep of the hotel’s roof evokes the fender and fins of a veneer wood finish that rises 20 feet,” said
classic car. The sheen of stainless steel and the play of LED lights boldly set this stretch of Deming. Plus, the entry is on a radius,
Grand River Avenue aglow. both horizontally and on its vertical slope.
AWI members that are ready to serve you.

AWI members offer Barn Door Lumber Hemlock www.barndoorlumber.com
the best
Brunt Associates Wixom www.bruntassociates.com
Case Systems Midland www.casesystems.com
Daiek Woodworks Sterling Heights www.daiekwoodworks.com
choice for Dovetails Inc.
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quality Klein Cabinets & Interiors
Kropp Woodworking
Madeira Woodworking
Westphalia www.kleincabinets.com
Sterling Heights www.kroppwoodworking.com
Troy www.madeirawoodworking.com
MOD Interiors Fairhaven www.modinteriors.com
Modern Millwork Wixom www.modernmillworkinc.com
Poncraft Door Auburn Hills www.poncraft.com
Rosati Specialties Clinton Twp. 586-783-3866
Rice & Werthmann Inc. Detroit www.riceandwerthmann.com
Strata Design Inc. Traverse City www.stratadesign.com
Tadd Industries Marne 616-677-5263
Tawas Custom Concepts Whittemore 989-756-4223
Thomas & Milliken Millwork Northport www.tmmill.com
Photos courtesy of AWI Great Lakes member.
architectural woodwork. Contact a member today.

www.AWIgreatlakes.org

SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:09 PM Page 23
The fit of all these interior finishes had to

be perfect to maintain the design intent.”
The second-level houses the main gaming
area of the casino, while the first level of
the casino contains gaming space, a new
poker room, the VIP porte-cochere
entrance, the loading dock, and the main
substation switchgear.
Each area of this interconnected web of
buildings is like a new neighborhood with
its own personality. “The Continental
Building is the theater, restaurant and
meeting space core, so the finishes feature
more wood and more subtle colors, but
still retain an emphasis on lighting and
the common thread of stainless steel,
metallic accent finishes,” said Treinen.
“The theater lobby bar features more
vibrant colors to parallel the energy gener-
ated in the theater.”
The hotel lobby has a calming palette of
blue glass mosaic tile and wood paneling
for the soaring reception desk wall. “The
hotel lobby is a two-story, open structure
with 25-foot-high ceilings,” said Panici.
Putting the R back in relaxation, the sooth-
ing sounds of a waterfall cascade down
another 25-foot expanse of blue glass tile.
The lobby’s undulating wall of wood pan-
els is in sync with the sinuous lines of the
ribbon roofs, subtly linking the hotel inte-
rior to the exterior.
“We wanted an expansive hotel lobby
with clean, uncluttered architectural lines
and furnishings,” said Treinen. “The
reception desk wall and retail wall have
dramatic sweeping curves to emphasize
their materials, particularly the exotic
Movingue wood veneer with darker
Movingue and polished stainless steel
accents. The wall is further accentuated
by LDA’s use of lighting. Also key is the
travertine floors with stainless divider
strips.” The hotel offers a spa, a nightclub,
and the Iridescence restaurant on the 16th
floor. “The restaurant features a 27-foot-
high glass-enclosed wine display with a
computer controlled, vertically rotating,
custom designed and fabricated wine cra-
dle system fabricated and engineered
locally by Detroit-based Ferrante
Manufacturing Co. and its subcontractor,”
added Treinen. That’s an interior design
feature worth its weight in Merlot.
Thanks to an inspired and skilled design
and construction team, visitors to Motor
City Casino can turn the inner dial to
party mode, burning away stress in this
exciting entertainment venue in the heart
of the actual Motor City.

SI 2008 24-31 Metro Airport 9/26/08 3:35 PM Page 24
RENDERING COURTESY OF GENSLER
Terminal
Velocity
Velocity
Velocity
T
By David R. Miller, Associate Editor Photos by Anne-Marie Poltorak, CIT
he North Terminal to a nearby parking deck, and a two-level resulting from the aftermath of 9/11, and
Redevelopment Project is diffi- Ground Transportation Center, in addi- the inherent logistical issues associated
cult to put into perspective. To a tion to the demolition of the existing with working at a major air transporta-
casual observer, the 26-gate facil- Davey Terminal, Marriott Hotel and tion complex, could make a person won-
ity, which was approved by the airlines in 600,000-square-yards of apron, the rela- der how it ever got completed at all.
June 2001 to replace the Berry and Smith tively short time period between concep- The team that delivered this mammoth
terminal complex, would appear to have tion and completion seems much more project on time and on budget included
inched toward completion at a snail’s impressive. On top of that, an under- master architect/design architect Gensler,
pace. When one considers the scope of standing of the job’s complexities, which Detroit, and associate architect GHAFARI
the project, which included the construc- included working with many users and Associates, LLC, Dearborn, along with
tion of an 850,000-square-foot facility, an other stake-holders, coping with substan- construction manager Walbridge Barton
enclosed skywalk connecting the terminal tial design changes including many Malow, LLC, Detroit. An able group of

subcontractors and professional consult- for post-9/11 flyers is an enhanced level

ants followed the example of these indus- of security. Despite all of the new post- For the North Terminal to succeed com-
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
try leaders to form a cohesive team that 9/11 challenges, one key variable mercially, the facility would need to live
was more than up to this challenge. remained unchanged from the earliest up to the elevated expectations created by
planning stages. the McNamara Terminal. Using the
“One goal that has driven the design McNamara Terminal as a benchmark
The facility known as the North and construction is the budget,” admitted posed some challenges, as the North
PROJECT HISTORY
Terminal today was originally approved Hypnar. “The airlines established a Terminal was designed to operate under a
by the airlines in June 2001. Events unlike budget in 2001 when they approved the different model.
anything seen before put the future of this project. When design work started in “The difference between the
project in doubt shortly thereafter. 2004, we were told that we could proceed, McNamara Terminal and the North
“In September 2001, 9/11 occurred and but with the same budget. By the time Terminal is in the way that passengers
there was some question as to whether Walbridge Barton Malow ended up being pass though the facility,” said Hypnar.
there was even going to be a commercial selected as the successful construction “The McNamara Terminal was built as a
aviation industry,” said Jon Hypnar, AIA, manager at risk in 2005, we had to work hub facility, with lots of aircraft coming in
senior vice president, facilities, mainte- four years’ worth of inflation into a budg- from a variety of destinations and passen-
nance and planning for the Detroit et that was tight in 2001.” gers changing over to other flights within
Metropolitan Wayne County Airport Despite the firmly set budget, there the same concourse. The North Terminal
Authority. “As we moved beyond that, were certain requirements for the new was designed as an O and D [Origin and
we went forward with design and con- terminal that would not come cheaply. Destination] facility, with passengers
struction of this new terminal to replace Airlines operating out of the North either starting or ending their trips there.”
the aging facilities of the Smith and Berry Terminal would be at a competitive dis- Movement patterns in O and D termi-
Terminals.” advantage if the fit and finish of their nals are very different from hubbing facil-
The long-term effects of the terrorist facility was inferior to what was found a ities. An understanding of how people
attacks, along with other business trends, short distance away at the McNamara would traverse the space aided the design
complicated planning efforts by making Terminal. The project was also originally process.
the airline industry somewhat unpre- budgeted as a renovation of the Davey “Regardless of what type of traveler we
dictable. The Berry Terminal, for exam- Terminal. The decision to build a new were looking at, or what airline they
ple, was originally the airport’s interna- facility added a substantial amount of were using, we were able to
tional terminal when it was competed in demolition to the overall cost. identify common
1972. The Berry Terminal’s role was Delivering a high-end feel on a shoe- paths that
greatly diminished when many interna- string budget was one of many challenges
tional flights were transferred over to the that impacted the overall design philoso-
new McNamara Terminal. Charter traffic, phy of the project team.
another Berry Terminal mainstay, has
drastically decreased in recent years.
Skyrocketing fuel costs and other finan-
cial pressures have also created a surge of
low-cost carriers, which neither the Berry
Terminal, nor the older Smith Terminal,
was designed to accommodate.
Of course, the most
noticeable
change

Various retail offerings help make flying

out of the North Terminal more pleasant.
everyone walked,” said William using the parking deck with its third-level
Hartman, AIA, LEED AP, design princi- pedestrian walkway. Once on the depar-
pal and principal-in-charge for Gensler. tures level, they stand in a two-story
“That let us be very efficient with the entry foyer that brings natural light into
design. We could support the movement all three levels of the facility, even the
of the passengers without wasting our lower level baggage claim area. From
budget in areas that weren’t commonly here, they continue along a carefully con-
experienced.” sidered path that ends at the door of their
The second level of the North Terminal airplane.
is the departure level. Departing passen- Blue accents were artfully applied to
gers enter the second level through a the interior to subtly direct all passengers
curbside door or via an escalator for those in the right direction. Passengers can
A two-story entry foyer brings natural light into all three levels of the facility, even this lower
level baggage claim area.

navigate the facility by simply moving

toward the next blue wall. As they reach
a point where they might need to make a
decision, even something as simple as
whether they need to use the restroom,
passengers are comforted by a reduction
in scale provided by drop ceilings with Providing guidance, service, and
warm wood panels. Departing passen-
gers first enter the ticketing area, which comprehensive financial solutions…
includes easy access to traditional ticket
counters and Internet ticket kiosks. By
this point, they have likely already light-
• Investment Management
ened their burden by checking their bag- • Retirement Plans
gage curbside. Passengers may travel • Financial Planning
through the facilities differently, but they
will still see many similarities between
• Business Continuation & Wealth Transfer
the North and McNamara terminals. Investment Consultants to Construction Association of Michigan
“The comparison to McNamara
[Terminal], in terms of operation and con- For a consultation contact:
figuration, is very important,” said Daniel M. Yuhn, CPA
Hartman. “There is a family resemblance
between the buildings. The North Phone: (248) 353-6570 Ext.314
Terminal is much smaller, so it is the little E-mail: daniel.yuhn@LPL.com
brother, but the operational efficiency and
family resemblance are still there.”
Website: www.Legatia.us
To deliver a terminal that functioned as
well as its big brother, the design team 29100 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 405, Southfield, MI 48034
first needed to develop an understanding Securities Offered Though LPL Financial Member FINRA/SIPC
of precisely how the facility would be
used and what was important to each
user.
“Arriving at a facility design that pro-
vided a pleasant experience for passen-
gers, but also balanced the needs of the Telecommunications
stakeholders, was a challenge,” said
Hartman. “It’s easy to solve functional
Voice ● Data ● Video
problems when all you consider is func-
tion. However, when the experiences of Dedicated to quality, reliability and
passengers, visitors, airline workers, con- professionalism. Specializing in:
cessionaires and the airport staff are all
taken into consideration, everything is
raised up a notch. From the beginning of
the project, there were many discussions
Business Telephone & Voicemail Computer Data Networks
where the voices of all these groups were Systems Network Support Services
represented.”
Before the desires of these groups could
Video Surveillance Wireless Transmission Systems
be realized, the project team first needed

Access Control Computer Room Design, Build and
to address many logistical issues associat- Audio/Video Distribution Systems Cleanup
ed with the project. Structured Cabling Voice Over IP Solutions
Voice, Data & Fiber Optic Cabling Backup Solutions
The site of the North Terminal posed a
LOGISTICAL ISSUES
number of challenges that needed to be

addressed before and during construc-
tion. The apron that was demolished to
make way for the new facility was the site
Detroit Office: Shelby Township Office:
of aircraft refueling and de-icing opera-
3365 Michigan Ave., 53081 Providence Drive,
tions for about 35 years, making petro-
Detroit, 48216 Shelby Twp., 48316
chemical-and glycol-contaminated soils a e-mail: sales@xxpert.com ph: 586-405-2252 ● fax: 586-580-3953
near certainty. A dense layer of clay
approximately four to five feet below web: www.xxpert.com
grade worked to the benefit of the project

team, as it prevented contamination from plant to other facilities that had to stay in site was far from ideal.
seeping into soils below. This reduced the operation,” said Tom McCarthy, deputy “The utilities here have aged consider-
amount of soil that needed to be trans- director, North Terminal Redevelopment ably, said Charlie Pfeifer, project execu-
ported to a landfill. for the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne tive for Walbridge Barton Malow. “A
“One challenge that we had early on County Airport Authority. number of them weren’t located very
was designing the facility right on top of This ductbank and other utilities would well, but we found them very quickly
an existing ductbank that supplied power have been problematic under even the whenever we put shovels into the
and chilled water from the existing power best of conditions, but the situation on the ground. We ran into one chilled water
pipe that wasn’t where it was supposed
to be, and the pipe was so old that we
couldn’t find replacement parts. We
ended up using a temporary chiller [sup-
plied by Hale Contracting, Inc., MBE,
Detroit] because we always had to have a
plan so that the airport would never real-
ize any significant downtime.”
In addition to keeping disruptions at a
minimum, the project team also had to
coordinate all activities with an unusual-
ly large group.
“It is important to understand that you
are working with multiple customers on a
project like this,” said Pfeifer. “We are
building for all of the airlines, but also for
internal customers within WCAA [Wayne
County Airport Authority]. At the same
time, we were working with a very diffi-
cult budget and inside an active airport
facility where passengers are constantly
trying to move towards the terminals.”
Walbridge Barton Malow performed
this project as a construction manager at
risk. Minor alterations, which would
result in a change order on a typical proj-
ect, were absorbed by the maximum price
guaranteed beforehand by the contractor.
On the other hand, this guarantee did not
account for significant government-and
owner-directed changes. For example,
changing federal regulations drastically
altered the requirements for the Federal
Inspection Station (FIS) to accommodate
international flights. This space doubled
to more than 50,000 square feet under the
new regulations, with a similar doubling
of baggage capacity. Changes this signif-
icant, as well as the many smaller alter-
ations that are inevitable on a project of
this size, require a fair amount of flexibil-
ity on the part of the project team.
“From an administrative point of view,
we had to become very adept at passing
paperwork along, getting it into the
hands of our superintendents and sub-
contractors and incorporating changes
into our schedule,” said Paul Tantalo, sen-
ior project director for Walbridge Barton
Malow. “Operations on a large construc-
tion project like this can happen in sever-
al different sequences. When issues came
up, we sometimes had to work on what

we could, rather than on what we wanted to, while the archi-

tects and engineers resolved the issues.”
To deal with these issues effectively, the project team devel-
oped an uncommon level of cooperation.
One interesting aspect of the North Terminal project team is

MICHIGAN TEAMWORK
the overwhelming majority of its members that come directly

from southeastern Michigan, including a unique joint venture
that brought much of the region’s top construction talent togeth-
er. The current state of the economy would have made it diffi-
cult or impossible for a single contractor to handle the construc-
tion management responsibilities.
“This project is just a portion of our volumes [Barton Malow
and Walbridge Aldinger Co.], but bonding capacity is an indus-
try challenge that we are all facing right now,” said Doug
Maibach, PE, vice president of corporate affairs for Barton
Malow. “Bonding companies are hesitant to give a single com-
pany a bond for a project of this size. The surety industry great-
ly encourages us, as contractors, to reach out and find a partner.
Both Walbridge and Barton Malow would almost had to have
reached out to someone, likely from outside the area, to be a
partner.”
Blue accents were artfully applied to the interior to subtly direct

passengers in the right direction.

Maibach pointed out that it made sense

to look for a local partner for this particu-
lar project. Contractors who perform well
can always take pride in their work, but
the visibility of the North Terminal would
make it a particularly valuable showplace
for top-performing Michigan contractors.
The terminal would also put any project
team failings on display, so selecting a
partner that could increase the chances of
success was vital.
“We’re both quality-oriented and we
both happen to be ISO certified,” said
Pfeifer. “We literally merged for this
process, using the best of our two quality
operating systems. Our processes
improved jointly and collectively.”
Is spite of the many positive attributes
each company possessed, Maibach can-
didly admitted that he assumed this
unique partnership caused some appre-
hension on the part of the owner. Could
two competitors work together? If
Maibach was concerned about Wayne
County Airport Authority’s reaction to
the joint venture, recent comments from
As passengers reach a point where they need to make a decision, they are comforted by a
reduction in scale provided by drop ceilings with warm wood panels.

Hypnar must have been reassuring. team. Additionally, this aided the team in also engineered to save energy by operat-
“Certainly, when we sent the project meeting challenging quality and timing ing with a minimum number of tracks
out as construction manager at risk, we objectives.” bringing all bags through a centrally locat-
were hoping that both Barton Malow and The effectiveness of this design process ed bomb room. Despite the complexity of
Walbridge Aldinger would send in pro- manifested itself in a highly efficient facil- the project, the speed in which the team
posals, understanding that they both ity. The North Terminal’s linear design worked rivaled that of the aircraft above,
have a great deal of local knowledge,” simplifies pedestrian traffic while reduc- reaching terminal velocity to deliver the
Hypnar said. “I was pleasantly surprised ing the amount of fuel aircraft use in get- facility on time and on budget.
when the two of them decided to go after ting to the gates. The baggage system was
this together.”
Hypnar did confess to some slight con-
cern about their ability to work together,
but he felt that benefit of their local
expertise would far outweigh this poten-
tial liability. His experience on the project
has reinforced his initial optimism.
“As far as we were concerned, there
was a company called Walbridge Barton
Malow that operated like it had been
around for a long time,” said Hypnar. COMMERCIAL l RESIDENTIAL l INSTITUTIONAL
“They worked together seamlessly.”
Local regulatory agencies are also
familiar with the industry leadership ADD A FIREPLACE TO ANY:
exhibited by both companies. The con-
tractors joined with the Michigan
l OFFICE l WAITING ROOM
Department of Labor & Economic Growth

(DLEG), the Greater Detroit Building and
l BOARDROOM l GUEST SUITE
Construction Trades Council, the

Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
and Millwrights, and MIOSHA, to sign a DESIGN, SERVICE & INSTALLATION
major partnership to ensure the safety
and health of workers on the project.
Similar to MIOSHA’s existing partnership
Recent Notable Projects:
with Walbridge Aldinger for the City of Greektown Casino
l
Dearborn Combined Sewer Overflow

Contract #3 project, the first such agree-
l Providence Hospital
ment in Michigan, it eliminates the per-
l Bon Secours Hospital
ception of working against regulatory l The Whitney Restaurant
agencies by reducing mandated inspec-

tions in favor of a genuine partnership
l Palace of Auburn Hills
working collectively and proactively

l Lawrence Tech
towards a safer work environment.

The spirit of cooperation that enabled
l Bloomfield Township Library
agreements like the MIOSHA partnership

l Southfield Library
was not confined to just construction l Marriott Suites
companies. The design process included

integrating the talents and resources of
l Staybridge Suites
four local architectural firms, Gensler,

GHAFARI, Hamilton Anderson
Featuring:
Associates, Inc., Detroit, and Scales &
Associates, Inc., Detroit, which operated
initially from Gensler’s office and then
GHAFARI’s offices during the first 16
months of the project.
“Having a collocated team significantly
contributed to the success of this project,” 10662 Northend l Ferndale Michigan 48220
l
said Kouhaila G. Hammer, GHAFARI Phone: 248.547.6777 Fax: 248.547.6678

president and CEO. “Collocation enabled w w w. a m e r i c a n f i r e p l a c e d i s t . c o m
greater efficiencies in terms of communi-
cation, information-sharing and decision
making among members of the design
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SI 2008 32-45 Metro Health 10/2/08 11:13 AM Page 32
Metro Health Writes Prescription for

the First LEED Hospital in the Midwest
P
atients at Metro Health Hospital are tuning into the C.A.R.E.
Channel, drifting to sleep while gazing at a starlit sky awash
in gentle, natural sounds. Free access to this unique television
channel is only one example of Metro Health’s healing touch
and its belief in the restorative power of the natural world. Metro
Health brought this healing touch to its new replacement hospital
near Grand Rapids, creating the first LEED-certified hospital in the
By Mary E. Kremposky Midwest and one of only about five in the entire country. The dedi-
Associate Editor cated team of HDR Architecture, Inc., Omaha, a joint venture of the
Michigan office of Turner Construction Company, Detroit, and The
Christman Company, Grand Rapids, and Navigant Consulting, the
Photos by Wayne Cable Photography Chicago-based program manager, brought the C.A.R.E. Channel to
life in a sense, turning the volume on high with the delivery of this
$105 million dollar replacement hospital.

SI 2008 32-45 Metro Health 9/26/08 2:26 PM Page 33
species form a living blanket, reducing irriga- mean that sincerely,” said David C. Brown,
tion demands and bringing the vitality of the director of Navigant Consulting, Chicago,
living world to the doorstep of the ill and owner’s representative and program manag-
infirm. The only hospital in the United States er for Metro Health.
with a vegetated roof and the second largest Turner and Christman joined forces under
green roof in Michigan – second in size but their own impetus.“The joint venture wasn’t
probably first in sheer beauty – covers the a project requirement,” said Matthew W.
hospital’s lower reaches, its eight varieties of Bort, Turner project manager. “Turner and
sedum unfolding in a broad skirt of color Christman joined forces to provide Metro
below the patient tower. The 108,000 plants Health Hospital the strongest team possi-
in this floral arrangement on a grand scale ble.” Added Dan LaMore, senior vice presi-
are placed in great curvilinear swaths of var- dent of Christman,“This strong collaboration
ied color, its entire expanse easily viewed allowed us to bring the unique strengths of
from a glass beacon scaling the 7-story our two companies together in a way that
patient tower. would benefit Metro Health as our client.”
Sited and definitely operating on higher The numbers tell the story: A project
ground, the hospital building, itself, is a delivered a month ahead of schedule, $13
broad curved arc of softly colored brick and million dollars under budget, and with
bands of large windows, offering every 868,737 work hours without a lost-time acci-
patient a panoramic view and drawing in the dent. The stellar safety record made the
balm of natural light into each of the hospi- project the first in Michigan to ever receive a
tal’s 208 private rooms. This massive Gold Safety Award from Liberty Mutual.
427,000-square-foot hospital with the More than numbers, Turner/Christman
warmth of a welcoming home could not and HDR delivered a high-quality building
have been possible without the care and that has satisfied the hospital and inspired
expertise of HDR, one of the leading health- the community. “We feel that with the new
care architectural firms in the country, and hospital we finally have a facility that match-
Turner/Christman, a team selected after a es the caliber of people that deliver care for
rigorous review of 10 to 20 national candi- Metro Health Hospital,” said Carrie J.
dates. “They are the best of the best, and I Knobloch, Metro Health vice president of
Steeped in the LEED approach, both

Turner/Christman and HDR steered the envi-
ronmentally-conscious hospital toward
vying for LEED certification, a rarity in the
hospital market. Together the entire Metro
Health team has answered the natural
world’s Code Blue (the medical term for an
emergency) with an array of “green” initia-
tives.
The project team planted the seeds of
change about four years ago, and today both
site and building is bearing fruit. On site, the An outdoor Healing Garden flourishes in the center of the hospital complex. Vegetation, fresh
tangerine-bright blossoms of butterfly air, and the serene patter of a small stream help reconnect visitors and staff to the restorative
plants and the deep taproots of other native power of the natural world.

real estate and hospital operations. The hospital once again has under construction include a hotel, educational facility, and a bank
been rated as one of the Thomson 100 Top Hospitals in America in that broke ground in June 2008.
the teaching hospital category for the second year in a row. “We are After the hotel’s launch, a major organic foods store and a fitness
only in the 1.5 percent of all hospitals in the nation to achieve that center may soon join this healthcare neighborhood, said Michael D.
designation two years in a row,” said Knobloch. Faas, Metro Health CEO and the visionary leader behind the village
The community has responded with enthusiasm and generosity concept. “We believe it is the first at this level and scale for a hospi-
to the new replacement hospital. Numbers also tell the second tal,” said Faas. “Other hospitals tour our facility, and many will com-
chapter of the story.“We have increased the number of new patients ment that they are building or considering a similar development.
at our new facility by 30 percent, emergency room visits are up 15 Others have certainly thought of the concept before, but visiting hos-
percent, and in-patient visits are up almost 20 percent. We’ve had an pitals tell us we are ahead of everyone else in actual development.”
incredible response from the community,” said Knobloch. “We have
more than doubled our philanthropic goals. We have people com- MAKING ROOM FOR GROWTH
ing to us very enthusiastically wanting to be part of the Metro Metro Health has always been fertile ground for innovation, blend-
Health experience. It has just been amazing.” In fact, the 24-hour ing traditional care with an added focus on lifestyle, diet and the
C.A.R.E Channel is one of the most recent healing touches support- interaction of multiple bodily systems on a disorder. “Metro Health is
ed by philanthropy in this expanding healthcare institution located the only independent osteopathic hospital and the last large osteo-
on the southwest fringe of Grand Rapids in Wyoming. pathic teaching hospital in western Michigan,” said Faas.
This cutting-edge institution has surprisingly humble roots. A small
IT TAKES A HOSPITAL TO RAISE A VILLAGE group of osteopathic physicians established a practice in a private
Metro Health is not only propagating “green” healthcare buildings, home before founding the original hospital on a 14-acre site along
but also embarking on another groundbreaking national develop- the border of Grand Rapids and East Grand Rapids, said Knobloch.
ment: the creation of a medical village with the replacement hospi- Built in 1962, the facility became a hodge-podge of outdated spaces
tal as the town square. Virtually a small planned town, the 170-acre as the hospital continually expanded over the course of the next 40
site already supports four medical office buildings for specialty and years. Plus, the surrounding residential neighborhood became
primary care physicians, a center of excellence for outpatient oncolo- increasingly congested and no longer offered any room for growth.
gy, and two retail centers with Wright & Filippis, Inc., a durable med- Like a vigorous plant outgrowing a small pot, Metro Health saw the
ical equipment and prosthetics supplier as first tenant. Buildings futility of adding yet another addition to the existing 275,000-
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square-foot hospital and began the search for a more expansive

patch of ground.
Once Metro Health decided to transplant the hospital, Faas kept
his eye open for an optimal site near Grand Rapids and his mind open
for cutting-edge healthcare developments. “Probably two key vari-
ables struck me,” recalled Faas. “One was the fact that some hospitals
are blessed with great locations and have retail, restaurant, medical
office buildings and even assisted living facilities within walking dis-
tance. The second variable became clear as I was waiting for a con-
necting flight in Minneapolis. I wondered, ‘Who would ever have
thought to build a mall in an airport?’ The concept turned out to be
successful. I began to transfer the concept to the medical arena. I
thought, ‘What if we build our own town with the hospital as the
anchor.”
Metro Health’s quest led to an expansive site located 7 miles south-
west of the existing hospital. The site places the new hospital and its
companion development, Metro Health Village, in one of Grand
Native grasses and a network of rain gardens produce a site with a
Rapid’s thriving population centers south of the city and offers easy soft footprint. The site requires less irrigation, aids in stormwater
access from the recently constructed Paul Henry Freeway along the management, and reduces carbon emissions via less mowing and
site’s southern fringe, added Knobloch. maintenance.
PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION country coupled with Metro Health’s holistic osteopathic principles,
Two years of strategic planning and two years of physical planning the quest for a sustainable building was a natural fit. “In the early
produced this 7-story house of healing.The incorporation of environ- planning stages, we worked with the hospital and the community in
mentally-friendly principles into the new development was identi- putting together a list of guiding principles,” said Jarrad Pitts, manag-
fied as a goal at the very inception of the project. With Grand Rapids er of property construction, Metro Health. “Green commercial build-
possessing the highest number of green buildings per capita in the ing practices were identified early as a principle, and then were taken

Metro Health is the only hospital in the United States with a vegetated roof. As the second
largest green roof in Michigan, eight varieties of sedum unfold in a broad skirt of color below
the patient tower.
out to the village and also operationally conventional hospital. The curve, too, was a
within the organization.” cost-effective choice selected without mar-
In the planning stages, HDR and ring the design intent. Instead of building a
Turner/Christman wielded the budgetary conventional but more costly radius, “the
scalpel with finesse, surgically removing $13 building has the appearance of a perfect arc,
million dollars from the original budget but but is actually composed of a series of
beautifully preserving the design intent. straight segments,” said Knobloch. The curve
Originally, the hospital envisioned a stone is able to work its magic, “ensuring that the
skin for the first floor in line with Frank Lloyd view from all the patient rooms looked out
Wright’s prairie-style ideal. A terracotta and on the site’s vegetated areas,” said Goehring.
beige brick, combined with light green alu- “We also pinpointed the highest point on the
minum composite cornices, lend a lightness site and placed the hospital in this location.”
and warmth to the building exterior. “The For cost-savings and future construction,
brick was less expensive than the stone, but an expansion zone in the back of the hospital
still provided the warm feel we were looking was clad in brown metal panels rather than
for in the project,” said Wade D. Goehring, the appealing brick, saving the hospital over
HDR project architect. a quarter of a million dollars. “It will probably
The soft almost pastel-colored brick and be removed within five years, and be
the building’s broad sweeping curve are replaced by an expansion of emergency and
warm and appealing, moving Metro Health surgery areas,” said Brown.
far beyond the institutional appearance of a Knobloch praises the project team for

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of personal and professional conduct
• To promote and provide dialogue among other

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• To advise the membership with important information

and changes within the industry
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and application
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exchange informal ideas and questions related to
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local and state levels, supporting its goals and
objectives
GCA MEMBERS
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43636 Woodward Ave.

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
(248) 972-1032
delivering stellar quality at a manageable

cost. “I can’t speak highly enough of the
team,” said Knobloch. “The architects were
wonderful. Every person we worked with
from HDR was highly professional, highly col-
laborative, and very creative in terms of their
approach to problem solving. The
Turner/Christman joint venture did an out-
standing job of identifying potential oppor-
tunities to improve on the cost and offering
suggestions as we moved through the con-
SALES RENTALS struction process.”
The collaborative effort extended from the
ERECTIONS DELIVERY conference table to cyberspace.
SHORING SCAFFOLDING Turner/Christman used Turner Talk, Turner’s
SWING STAGING TRASH CHUTES own Web-based project management sys-
SCAFFOLD PLANKS Since 1952 EXPERT DESIGN tem to keep the job on track. “Turner Talk is
FALL PROTECTION AND one of the first Web-based project manage-
TRAINING 1-800-693-1800 SAFETY SERVICES ment systems in which a construction com-
pany has its own management program,”
said Bort.“Plus, it is a new development for a
company to incorporate all of the programs
necessary for construction management into
one program. Other management programs
have to be purchased separately, and they
often don’t talk to each other properly.
Turner Talk incorporates the financing end,
payment application, project schedule, and
change orders, and expands into communi-
cation on the Web with the owners and the
rest of the project team.”
The National Advantage A FAST-TRACK, TWO-TRACK PROJECT

Turner/Christman turned its construction
machine into high gear, ultimately delivering
the project a month ahead of schedule. The
joint venture officially broke ground in fall
2003, first removing the topsoil and excavat-
ing to the lower level, then placing the con-
crete foundation walls and structural steel
frame. Unfortunately, “the construction
machine” had to turn off its engine while the
hospital temporarily idled the project in
September 2004 to obtain full financing. The
team reconvened in April 2005 and construc-
tion began in full swing in July 2005. “Our
partners stood with us, and we found out
how strongly people believed in the project,”
It’s the service! said Faas. “We went back into the market and
Chain Link • Fence Panels • Windscreen hit the best week in a three-year zone to
Gates • Barbed Wire • Pedestrian Barricades finance. Everything went wonderfully from
that point, and the project had a fantastic
outcome.”
Serving all of Michigan With the resilience of natural systems, the
project recommenced at full-tilt with
Turner/Christman enclosing the building
swiftly by December 2005. “Completing the
exterior building envelope and having the
Recipient of the
roof complete by December 2005 allowed us
Call 614-308-1100 or to work inside the whole winter of 2005-
visit rentnational.com Hammer of Hope Award 2006,” said Bort. “This was key to our ability

to predict and target an accurate move-in

date for the hospital eleven months before
Metro Health moved into the new facility.”
The moving date had to be, and indeed
was, accurately gauged. Metro Health could
then confidently plan the transfer of nearly
one hundred patients and its own hospital
operations almost 11 months in advance.
“Basically, Turner/Christman knew 11 months
earlier that they would actually be a month
early,” said Brown.“Metro had to know way in
advance, because to come up three months
from the end and announce they would then
be done one month early would have been
pointless. A hospital needs ample time to
plan such a move.”
Cooperation between team players and
local building officials aided the schedule.
“We worked with local building officials for
permission to work in some areas of the
building, while the hospital staff occupied
adjacent finished areas for staff training, Earth tones and curvilinear elements create a warm and comforting main lobby.
allowing the staff to become familiar with
and move more quickly into the new hospi-
tal,” said Bort. With their proverbial ducks in division of the interior into two completely Metro Health, all those facilities are on the
a row, Metro Health then moved an entire separate construction tracks. “One team was first floor, plus some specialty areas on the
facility essentially in a single weekend. devoted to constructing complicated spe- second floor in labor and delivery. All the
Another factor behind this swift construc- cialty spaces, such as the operating rooms rooms from the third to the sixth floor of the
tion and occupancy was Turner/Christman’s and the emergency rooms,” said Bort. “At patient tower are basically similar and repet-
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itive. An entirely separate crew – we used a while curing is needed to maintain the prop- these approaches, we did not have to clean
second crew from every subcontractor - was er warranty on many building materials.” the air handling equipment and ductwork, a
assigned to building these repetitive spaces common practice even on a new building at
in the patient tower.” PREVENTIVE MEDICINE the end of a project. On a project this size, we
Of course, the specialty spaces were the As part of LEED certification, estimated that it could have cost a half-mil-
most challenging construction-wise. “The Turner/Christman managed indoor air lion dollars.”
most difficult spaces to build are surgery, car- quality (IAQ) practices throughout the A sustainable project also requires the
diovascular, radiology and the emergency project, employing two dust reduction construction team to manage, verify and
rooms, because of the types of equipment strategies whose results were literally a document the influx of LEED-approved prod-
and services in these spaces,” said Bort. breath of fresh air. “Ductwork and attached ucts. “Making sure we were buying the right
Building a mockup of one of the hospital’s equipment for air handling units arrive with products, checking that the products we
nine operating rooms, as well as a patient both ends sealed,” said Bort. “We took one bought were being installed in the right way
room, and a labor and delivery room aided end off for installation, but at the end of each or were actually being brought in on site was
the hospital in finalizing equipment selection day left any exposed ends sealed. Basically, all a management exercise,” said Bort. “We
with minimal changes and helped the joint the ductwork and other equipment never had to verify that what HDR designed and
venture meet the schedule. “Using these two saw dust. While IAQ parameters allow about specified is what we are actually incorporat-
flows was very successful,” said Bort. 100 ppm of particulate, our IAQ test results ing into the building.”
The two-track flow and sequenced com- were in the range of about 8 ppm.” Working with HDR from the very inception
pletion of spaces offered a host of project A second strategy saved a substantial sum. of the project, Turner/Christman assisted the
benefits, including allowing time for “a very Turner/Christman placed a filter system on architectural team in investigating and
thorough and accurate commissioning of the air-handling units and used the units for assessing a variety of sustainable products.
every space, because making sure a building temporary heat. “Using air handlers as tem- Goehring has noticed an increase in the
functions properly is a vital part of a project’s porary heat was an economic benefit to the number and diversity of LEED-approved
success,” said LaMore. “The phasing also project, but again we took pains to prevent products just over the last five years, a fact
allowed for proper airing out and curing of introducing dust into the unit through the easing the job of sustainable architects and
all the materials. LEED certification requires use of filters, using supply air only, and clos- contractors.
both commissioning and airing of materials, ing all the returns,” said Bort. “Because of As part of this Earth-friendly and safety-
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The building’s broad, sweeping curve breaks down the scale of the 330-foot-long corridors.
Painted in calming earth tones, these pleasant corridors once again demonstrate Metro
Gus E. Zervos Steve M. Zervos
Health’s commitment to humanizing the hospital experience.
CEO President
conscious jobsite, Turner/Christman pre- “This approach honors the natural environ-
pared monthly LEED and safety reports for ment and reduces the use of mowers that
Metro Health, plus scheduled regular toolbox consume fossil fuels and produce emissions.”
talks focusing on both LEED and safety prac- If not absorbed by the site’s network of
tices. Every subcontractor was trained in sus- rain gardens, the stormwater is routed to a
tainable construction practices, such as job- water retention basin. “The hospital uses the
site recycling procedures,” said Bort.“We had water in the retention basin to irrigate the
as many as nine or ten dumpsters for differ- site,” said Goehring. “Our overall purpose is
ent materials, but we then had to educate to keep as much water as possible on site
the work force and get them to buy into the and then use any remaining water for irriga-
initiative.” A rigorous recycling program tion.” This carefully designed system is even
resulted in 70 percent of all construction being used as a test case for a State of
waste recycled and diverted from landfills. Michigan study on effective stormwater
management practices.
NATURAL MEDICINE Several wood stands remain on the site,
Sustainability shaped jobsite practices some original to the site and others donated
and the nature of the site, itself. and transplanted from an abandoned nurs-
At Metro Health, rolling up the manicured ery. A bike and walking trail, plus a barrier-
lawn and allowing Mother Nature to let her free playground, add a healthy dose of exer-
hair down has created a “naturescape” of cise to the hospital’s list of site amenities.
native grasses and a rich profusion of blooms. Mother Nature’s natural “finishes” embel-
In the botanical version of holistic healing, the lish the building, reducing the heat island
very ground is restored to its natural state, effect and managing stormwater. A living
and the healed fabric of soil, root, leaf and blanket of sedum covers the sweeping curve
bloom is allowed to do its job of retaining of the half-moon-shaped roof. Viewed from
stormwater and filtering impurities flushed the patient tower, the 48,500-square-foot
from paved surfaces. At home in the Midwest vegetated rooftop resembles an abstract
climate and soil conditions, this natural plant painting composed of broad brushstrokes of
community requires less irrigation and main- curvilinear color. “We were very deliberate in
tenance. “Much of the landscaping on site is selecting this design,” said Knobloch. “We
native vegetation that was present on the site wanted something that was very organic in
before it was developed,” said Knobloch. nature and free-flowing. Also, sedum is a

O A K L A N D C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E
Build Your Future

hardy, drought-tolerant plant.”
Beyond sedum, the building’s sustainable
skin can be viewed from the aerie of the glass
beacon scaling the patient tower. Garnering
LEED points in two categories, the windows Management Team Now
are larger than the norm as part of an effec-
tive daylighting strategy. Plus, the building’s OCC construction management and skill trade programs offer
massive number of bricks was obtained with- unique short-term training options, ideal for your company’s future
in 500 miles of the site.“Regional materials are managers and skilled trades workers. Many programs can be
a LEED point, because the practice reduces completed in as little as two semesters:
transportation costs and lowers the nation’s
overall vehicle emissions,” said Goehring.
3URMHFW 0DQDJHPHQW
Behind the brick façade, energy-efficient
No other local school offers more
building systems weave through the entire &RQWUDFW $GPLQLVWUDWLRQ
interior, cutting into the hospital’s energy bill
construction management options
and carbon footprint. “LEED certification is
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Despite such obstacles, Metro Health
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horsepower,” said Goehring.
Within the hospital interior, virtually all fur-
nishings use fabrics low in VOC content, and
maintenance staff use sustainable cleaning
products. “We have a very active Value
Analysis Team that scrutinizes new products,”
said Knobloch. “For instance, we are only
using PVC in cases where there is no other
alternative.” Metro Health follows Healthcare
without Harm principles, participates with
Hospitals for a Healthy Environment, and was
a pilot project for the Green Guide for
Healthcare. “We are definitely on the cutting-
edge in terms of our operating principles and
practices for hospitals and health systems
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ing the hot outside air.
• Boiler stack economizers are used to pre-

heat the boiler makeup water. Heat is
reclaimed from the boiler blow down lines
and the condenser water loop to preheat
the incoming domestic hot water makeup
lines. A water-side economizer provides
Metro Health’s cafeteria continues the facility’s “green” motif with leaf-shaped ceiling panels
cooling water when outside conditions war-
suspended below an exposed metal roof deck. Cafeteria operations also put sustainability
rant its use. High-efficiency chillers with an into action through the use of biodegradable dishware made out of sugar cane and corn,
NPLV of 0.519 beat the ASHRAE maximum of plus other environmentally aware initiatives.
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• Sensor-controlled faucets are used in

most sinks throughout the facility. eggplant-hued walls infuse the interior with of flowing water, and reconnect with the
a warm and relaxing ambiance. The main restorative power of nature,” said Knobloch.
• Two-level lighting controls and motion lobby is an open, light-filled space with “All research indicates that that helps create
sensors were installed. Photo cell sensors clerestory windows balanced by intimate a full sense of health and wellness, so we
are utilized to take advantage of daylighting. lounges in the “shadow” of leaf-shaped ceil- tried to incorporate these elements in this
HVAC, lighting and general use power all are ing soffits. “The main lobby is a blend of area.”
monitored separately and analyzed. grandness and comforting, intimate spaces,” The hospital eatery offers food for the
said Knobloch. body, mind and environmental conscience.
• Non-green roof areas utilize white TPO A coffee bar, computer stations, and an The cafeteria uses biodegradable dishware
membrane to reduce the heat island effect. information desk complete this gracious made out of sugar cane and corn, while sig-
introduction to Metro Health.“We wanted to nage explains the sustainable initiatives
• Over 300 trees were rescued from a create a lobby area that felt more like a employed in the facility’s creation. This cafe-
regional tree farm that had been sold for hotel,”said Knobloch. “We wanted a welcom- teria also feeds the eye with its decorative
development. ing, rather than an intimidating, facility.” assembly of leaf-shaped panels suspended
Ease of navigation is another core consid- below an exposed metal roof deck far above
• For interior materials, the following prod- eration. “We wanted to change the way West the cafeteria floor. The cafeteria’s clerestory
ucts were specified because of their recycled Michigan experienced healthcare,” contin- windows actually jut out above the main
content, low-VOC content and zero ued Knobloch. “In some cases, it is difficult to expanse of the vegetated roof directly above,
formaldehyde emissions: ceiling tiles, Green figure out where to go or who to ask for help drawing light deep into this eco-eatery.
Seal™-compliant paints, SCAQMD-compli- in a hospital lobby. We created a very visible
ant adhesives and sealants, Forest information desk and moved outpatient A PLACE TO HEAL
Stewardship Council-certified wood doors, services, such as imaging, lab, and cardiac The patient tower is designed with the
casework, carpet made from recycled plastic testing, toward the very front of the building”. same attention to comfort, healing and natu-
bottles, Green Guard-certified systems furni- Natural light pours into the lobby area ral light. The building’s sweeping curve
ture and seating; linoleum, resilient tile, from an outdoor courtyard called the breaks down the scale and visually shortens
handrails, guardrails, and wall protection. Healing Garden. Lush vegetation, beds of the length of the 330-foot-long corridors.
soft mosses, and the serene patter of a small What could have been a cold, institutional
Information supplied courtesy of Turner stream draw the natural world into the hos- route is actually a pleasant, brightly painted
Construction Company and The Christman pital interior. “We wanted to create a green corridor, once again demonstrating Metro
Company space for people to get out of the hospital Health’s commitment to humanizing the
and feel the sunlight, hear the healing sound hospital experience.

The patient tower has comfortable lounge

areas for families and all private rooms for
patients. “We’ve created essentially three
zones within each patient room, namely the
DETROIT CARPENTRY
family, caregiver, and patient zones,” said
Knobloch.“We’ve selected furniture that eas- JOINT APPRENTICESHIP
ily pops out into a bed. We encourage
patients to have family members stay with
them for support. Research proves this
TRAINING COMMITTEE
enhances recovery times, and allows people
to go home more quickly.”
DETROIT & SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN

All the rooms are same-handed, added
Goehring. “This means that every room is
arranged with the headwall and the footwall
in the same position rather than back to
back,” said Goehring. Added Knobloch,“It has
been born out in the medical literature that
having same-handed rooms decreases med-
ical errors within a hospital.” All hospital
equipment and vital instrumentation is
located in the same spot and oriented in the
same direction in every single room.
HDR designed the interior with the same
sense of orderly circulation, separating pub-
lic, patient and back-of-house areas into dis-
tinct zones. Goehring summarizes the circu-
lation of the hospital interior: “We wanted to
have public areas that are easy to navigate.
We have back-of-house corridors on the first
and second floors, allowing staff to circulate
easily and away from the public corridors.
Separate elevator bays transport patients
and accommodate staff and support servic-
es. Lastly, we zoned the departments for
proper placement, so that surgery, for exam- STRENGTH THROUGH
ple, was down the hall from emergency.”
Metro Health Hospital’s new replacement KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL
1401 Farrow • Ferndale, MI 48220
facility reached substantial completion in
June 2007 and officially opened in
Phone: (248) 541-2740

September 2007. This gracious building is a
fitting home for a patient-centered hospital
with a personal touch. Louisa Porcelli, Metro
Web site: www.detcarpapp.org

Health’s very first patient, attended the grand
opening. “She was the wife of one of our
founding osteopathic physicians, and she
came to the hospital to deliver her baby,”
said Knobloch. “She visited our new replace-
Union Trustees Management Trustees

ment hospital to see how far the hospital has
progressed from her husband’s vision and
how his commitment to create an osteopath-
Tim Kelley, Chairman Brian Sedik, Secretary

ic hospital in Grand Rapids has grown. It was
exciting for all of us.”
Michael Davis Gene Auger

The new Metro Health Hospital has given
Charlie Jackson Art Hug

birth to a sustainable building and to a new
Edwin Nyhus Patrick Landry

era for its own development. With the natu-
ral world needing skilled acute care, hopeful-
Dick Reynolds Jack Russell

ly such bold institutions as Metro Health and
Don Stewart Chuck Raeder

knowledgeable design and construction
teams, such as HDR, Turner Construction, and
The Christman Company, will help stabilize
the world’s vital signs and move forward into
its own new era.

SI 2008 46-55 Partridge Crk Mall 10/2/08 11:31 AM Page 46
N
By David R. Miller, Associate Editor
Photos courtesy of Hobbs + Black Associates, Inc.
o one knows exactly why shopping malls have managers Beeler Construction, Inc., Menomonee Falls, WI
become so popular, but the variety they offer is likely (Parisian); W.E. O’Neil Construction, Chicago, IL (Nordstrom);
a key factor. People often shop with family or friends, and Roncelli, Inc., Sterling Heights (MJR Theater); along with a
but they also usually have a purpose in mind. If one small army of skilled subcontractors to make this project possible.
person in the group wants a new shower curtain, everyone else is
along for the ride – unless other shopping venues are within
walking distance. Shopping malls let people travel as a group The opening of a single store is rarely newsworthy. Stores open
MARKET TRENDS
while accommodating their individual desires. frequently, and they may close just as quickly. It takes a much
Of course, this gets a little trickier when some people don’t larger investment to build a sizeable mall, so this type of con-
want to shop. Perhaps they want to take in a concert or movie, struction entails more risk than a single store and developers
enjoy a game of bocce or checkers, or leisurely stroll through a must convince a number of tenants to take the risk with them.
park-like setting. Opened by Taubman Centers Inc. in October of Most potential tenants need to see a well thought out plan and a
last year, the Mall at Partridge Creek in Clinton Township offers successful track record before they commit.
all these opportunities and more, along with a unique retail expe- “We saw, for lack of a better term, a hole in the market,’” said
rience where a full two-thirds of the shops are new to Macomb John Eggert, development director for the Taubman Company.
County. Architect Hobbs + Black Associates, Inc., Ann Arbor, and “People had money to spend, but they didn’t have access to the
construction manager Skanska USA Building Inc., headquartered stores where they wanted to shop. Purchases that could have
in Parsippany, NJ with a local office in Southfield, combined their been made in Macomb County were being made elsewhere.”
talents with tenant build-out coordinator, Sachse Construction The Mall at Partridge Creek met consumer demands with a
and Development Corp., Birmingham; anchor store construction slew of new stores, many of which had no Macomb County loca-

SI 2008 46-55 Partridge Crk Mall 9/26/08 3:01 PM Page 47
tions before. Store and restaurant offer- Local terrain was particularly challeng- acknowledged Eggert. “There are very
ings include Macomb County’s first P.F. ing on this project, as the site may have few perfect sites left anymore, so you need
Chang’s China Bistro and Brio Italian been ideal from a retail development to be creative these days.”
Grille, a new location for popular Anchor standpoint, but was less so for construc- The biggest drawback to the site was its
Bay eatery Tin Fish, and the first freestand- tion. relatively small size. Useable land was
ing Calvin Klein store in the nation. further reduced by a number of site fea-
Taubman employs a market research team tures. Two natural gas lines initially ran
to identify opportunities like the site that is The Mall at Partridge Creek is situated under the property, but one was removed
MAKING EVERYTHING FIT
now the home of The Mall at Partridge on a 53-acre portion of a 300-acre site for- and the other re-routed following conver-
Creek. The company currently owns merly occupied by the Partridge Creek sations with Consumers Energy. An exist-
and/or manages shopping centers in 11 Golf Club. “It’s not a perfect site,” ing drainage ditch running through the
states, but local knowledge gives it a slight
edge over the competition in Michigan.
“We’re always keeping our eye on the
Detroit metropolitan market and had been
looking for an opportunity on the east
side,” said Eggert. “I also think that our
reputation helps us here in our own back
yard. We don’t build one shopping center,
sell it and move on to the next one. We like
to build, hold, manage, own, maintain,
renovate or expand when it makes sense,
and keep these assets in our portfolio.”
Development was only one aspect of the
project that benefited from local expertise.
“We tried to select our subcontractors
from in and around Clinton Township,”
said Ken Duty, senior project manager for
Skanska USA Building. “We were able to
find quality contractors from the local
area, so we didn’t need to bring out-of-
state contractors in. We also get the best
competitive pricing from local contractors,
and they take a tremendous amount of
pride in what they build in their own com-
munities, so it makes sense all around to
keep the subcontractor base local.”
Timothy Andres, AIA, vice president of
Hobbs + Black, also praised the subcon-
tractors for the attention to detail that
comes from working close to home. Their
pride also translates into a tangible benefit
for Partridge Creek tenants.
“Since the mall opened, I don’t think
I’ve yet gone there [Partridge Creek] with-
out running into one of the subcontrac-
tors,” said Andres.
Taubman likewise realized the benefit of
local cooperation.
“Certainly, we wanted to give Skanska
flexibility, but all other things being equal,
we prefer working with the local people,”
said Eggert. “They know the local terrain
and we also support the local economy
that way.”
The Mall at Partridge Creek met consumer

demand with a slew of new stores and
restaurants, many of which, like the Brio
Italian Grille seen here, had no Macomb
County locations before.

The mall and the Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace in the lower left corner of this
photograph will probably appeal to many of the same shoppers. Both benefit from a parking
agreement that greatly increased the useable land at the site.
site was also re-directed around the site, and we used a combination of meth-
perimeter. Even after all of these elements ods to do that,” said Duty. “We pushed
were moved, the site was still extremely about 10,000 wick drains down 22 feet
tight. deep and introduced a surcharge burden
“One of the biggest challenges was in for a period of 65 days.”
getting the project on the site along with These wick drains are made from a
all of the parking,” said Andres. “There fibrous material that facilitates the flow of
was a strong desire to avoid a parking water up towards the surface. The area
structure. We went through quite a few was surcharged, or loaded with heavy soil,
schemes to come up with a plan that to force underground water up the wick.
worked.” The surcharge essentially mimicked the
The Mall at Partridge Creek is intended load of the buildings that would be erect-
to appeal to upper moderate to upscale ed. By compacting the soil, the surcharge
shoppers, the same people who would reduced the potential for uneven settling
also probably frequent a gourmet grocer, that can occur on loose material.
like the adjacent Nino Salvaggio Tight site conditions were also com-
International Marketplace. The collective pounded by the individual store build-
thinking was that careful planning could outs that were completed before the mall
transform the site to the benefit of both the opened. Every store represented a sepa-
mall and the existing grocer. rate project with its own project team.
“After some extensive discussions and “I would say that inline tenant coordina-
agreements, we created an integrated tion is always more strenuous when com-
parking field with Nino Salvaggio,” said pared to working with the anchors,” said
Eggert. “The site looks like one unified Duty. “Each inline tenant has its own con-
project, even though there are two sepa- tractor, so you rehash some coordination
rately owned pieces of property. issues 100 times.”
Salvaggio’s customers are the same people Sachse Construction and Development,
who shop here at the mall, so creating an the on-site tenant coordinator hired by
easy flow of traffic between the two only Taubman’s in-house tenant coordination
enhances the shopping experience for both staff, made this process much easier by
their customers and ours.” providing a single point of contact, but no
This parking arrangement greatly amount of pre-planning can eliminate
increased the useable land at the site, but every unforeseen challenge when utility
other portions of the site required some hook-ups are performed for each store.
additional work to be made suitable. Coordinating the testing and inspection of
“We had to consolidate the clays on the these critical hook-ups placed a huge bur-

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den on the entire project team right as the

work was entering its final stages.
Restaurant tenants needed additional util-
ity hook-ups and therefore required more
coordination, and fire protection and fire
alarm tie-ins added even more complexity
to the project. Theoretically, a single ten-
ant without a certificate of occupancy (CO)
could have delayed the opening of the
mall, but too many people were focused
on the process to allow this to happen.
“We anticipate tenants handling their
own fire protection,” said Duty. “Based on
their construction schedule, we put in a
cutoff time, after which we’ll come in and
install the fire protection ourselves if we
need to. If something isn’t happening, we
always have a ‘plan B’ to meet our testing
and inspection dates so we still get a time-
ly CO.”
Once all the individual stores were tied
into the fire protection and fire alarm sys-
tems, the mall was cleared to open.
The Mall at Partridge Creek includes three

different fountains, including this 85-foot-
long pop jet fountain that serves as a
popular cooling spot for children.

Few people would think of a shopping

GETTING BACK TO NATURE
mall as a place to reconnect with nature,

but Partridge Creek provides a unique
retail experience where this is not only
possible, but also virtually unavoidable. A
natural highlight of the site is a 300-year-
old Bur Oak tree in the southwest portion
of the site that was saved and tied into the
design of the mall.
“It was a goal of the owner to not only
save the tree, but to also make it a feature,”
said Andres. “One axis of the mall is actu-
ally lined up on that oak tree. We
enhanced the area by putting a customer
seating patio near the tree and by flowing
the landscaping from inside the project out
to where the tree is located.”
The tree is truly breathtaking to behold,
but building around any living thing begs
the question, “What happens if the tree
dies?” The project team worked with an
arborist who carefully assessed the health
Extensive canopies were included in the

design to provide shelter from the elements.

of the tree and also mapped out its root

system. Once the locations of the roots
were known, a significant amount of the
site was made off limits to heavy equip-
ment. After the tree was determined to be
healthy, selective pruning was performed
and an elaborate lightning protection sys-
Cipriano Coating Technology installs state of the art protective & decorative coatings for tem was installed to sustain it, possibly for
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We combine our years of experience with today’s technology to provide the proper
lating the tree’s lifespan to major historical

surface preparation and coating system to match each clients need.
events and graphics illustrating its

immense size. Hand tools were used to
bury wiring for the up lighting that makes
the tree spectacular after dark and a mas-
sive retaining wall was also needed to pre-
serve the tree’s natural grade, given the
higher elevation of the mall.
“We installed a 110-foot-long, one-foot-
thick wall to hold back the earth and the
road bed on the mall side,” said Ron
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Other outdoor amenities include a thir-
ty-foot tall fireplace, bocce ball courts, a
children’s play park and three different
fountains including an interactive 85-foot-
long pop jet fountain that serves as a pop-
ular cooling spot for children. Game
EDWARDS GLASS CO. tables, along with play pieces available at
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Fabricators And Installers Of All plethora of activities that can be enjoyed
outdoors at the mall. Many larger, mature
trees were installed to provide shade as
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Being outside is not always pleasant,
particularly during the winter months.
The Mall at Partridge Creek was built with
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sive snowmelt system underneath the
entire concrete paver and colored concrete

surface that provides the main walking was needed in the plaza, particularly feel for each side of Partridge Creek, subtly
path through the mall, constituting some around the underground snowmelt lines, reinforcing the strategically placed
125,000 square feet of plaza area. the project team faced a considerable scope wayfinding signs.
Approximately 55 manifold and fill sta- of work in a limited timeframe to complete “The west end of the mall’s outdoor
tions are needed to manage the piped flow the hardscape and softscape work. In plaza [near Nordstrom] has more of a gar-
of recirculated snowmelt fluid, an ecologi- addition to the hardscape work in the den feel,” explained Andres. “There is a
cally-friendly mix of glycol and water, plaza, John Carlo performed the sitework little more formality in the plantings and
which is heated by the output of 13 natural on the project. Among other tasks, the there are more painted finishes. As you go
gas boilers that were placed on store company stripped 60,000 cubic yards of toward the east end, where Parisian is
rooftops throughout the mall. topsoil, excavated 111,300 cubic yards of located, the plaza has more of an orchard
In the plaza, John Carlo, the hardscape fill, and placed 128,500 square yards of feel. There are more natural wood bench-
contractor, placed three-foot bed of 6-A asphalt, working a total of 90,000 man- es and less formal plantings. The east end
stone over the entire sub-grade surface hours – all without a time loss injury. The is also the entertainment end, with the
before the snowmelt lines were placed to sitework performed by John Carlo provid- bocce ball court, interactive fountain, and
prevent frost-induced soil heaving. A bed ed a stable platform upon which visitors children’s play park.”
of 21-AA stone was placed atop the 6-A could enjoy the Partridge Creek experi- A variety of plants were used to create
stone and the snowmelt lines were placed ence. this multi-faceted environment, and some
above this in a 2 1/2-inch sand bed that guests will inevitably want to replicate the
was placed just under the concrete paver landscaping in their own yards. Each
system. Larger grain sand could have Shoppers may have their first experi- plant is identified with a small numbered
EXPERIENCING PARTRIDGE CREEK
damaged the lines, which would be hot ence with some retailers at Partridge sign. Once they know this number, shop-
and under pressure when the system was Creek, but their introduction to these new pers can stop by the customer service cen-
activated. In addition to containing the stores will take place against a familiar ter to get a corresponding information
snowmelt lines, the stone and sand also backdrop. “We looked at Michigan sheet that identifies the plant species,
provided excellent site drainage during orchards and parks and we brought in describes its appearance, details its history,
construction. some of their local flavor,” said Andres. and even provides growing tips. Armed
Even though careful attention to detail Landscaping also provides a very distinct with this information, visitors can seek out

an identical plant at their local nursery and

bring some of the mall’s rich flavor home.
The plantings at Partridge Creek Mall
make for pleasant strolling on most days,
but too much sunlight can be bothersome,
and rain can literally dampen outdoor
excitement. Extensive canopies were
included in the design to provide shelter
from the elements. An exclusive pedestri-
an environment also adds to the enjoy-
ment of walking through the mall. Unlike
some open-air shopping malls, where
pedestrian and vehicular traffic is mixed
throughout, all parking is located on the
mall’s outer perimeter at Partridge Creek.
Shoppers can leave their cares, and their
cars, behind in the easily accessible park-
PHOTO COURTESY OF SKANSKA USA BUILDING INC.
ing areas while safely traversing the mall

at their leisure.
Most people will find something of
interest at Partridge Creek, no matter what
they enjoy. An impressive array of shops
and other activities truly make Partridge
Creek a mall for all.
The mall features a massive snowmelt system underneath the entire concrete paver and
colored concrete surface that provides the main walking surface.
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SI 2008 56-67 Chase Plastics 9/26/08 3:17 PM Page 56
Masonry, stone accents, and a hip roof with dormers and a cupola – and no
visible mechanical mezzanine – create an upscale traditional look for the new
world headquarters of Chase Plastic Services, Inc. in Clarkston. These features
seamlessly blend in with the primarily residential neighborhood.
High-End Design
I NSIDE & O UT
A
For a Rapidly Growing Michigan Business
few people figure out very in 2006 the Chases found themselves in
early what they’re good at need of an enlarged office space – for the
By Clare Desmond
and what they want to do sixth time!
for their life’s work. Kevin “As a matter of fact, at our last office
Chase seems to be one of space, we had three people working in
the hallway, and I shared my office with
Photography by
those people. He’s taken a very early
interest in plastics engineering to stun- an intern,” Carole Chase said.
Matthew Austermann
ning heights with the business he and his A national distributor of specialty engi-
wife, Carole, founded in Clarkston in neering thermoplastics, Chase Plastic
1992. The company has experienced dou- Services, Inc. has been flying ever since
ble-digit growth since its beginning, and the Chases started out in a small rented

their previous office, the owners decided Chase agreed: “Darryl did a great job!”
on new construction to satisfy their The project architect was David Lubin
immediate needs for a larger office space of Lubin, Schulz and Skocelas, Bloomfield
and to accommodate future growth. Hills. Collaborating with him on some of
Construction on the new building began the exterior details and doing the interior
in November 2006, and in October 2007 design was Valerie Young of Valerie
Chase Plastics moved into its new world Young Interiors, Lake Orion.
headquarters at 6467 Waldon Drive, just With 14,000 square feet per floor,
down the street from its former office. including a basement, the new 42,000-
“We had the building blessed by our square-foot building is more than four
friend, Fr. Leon,” Carole Chase said, refer- times larger than the office it replaced. It
ring to Fr. Leon Olszamowski, s.m., Ph.D., contains increased office area for Chase’s
of Notre Dame Preparatory High School, world headquarters on the top floor, a
Pontiac. first floor planned for leased office space,
Campbell-Manix Inc., Southfield, was and secure storage in a full unfinished
the general contractor on the project. The basement.
company’s vice president, Gary Burkhart,
PE, was project manager. The full service
The end result is one of refined beauty,
THE BEAUTY IS IN THE DETAILS
firm also offered some much needed
design/build expertise and value engi- highlighted by classic styling and fine
neering assistance on the project. detail, inside and out, blended with the
Although it did not do the architectural contemporary features of today’s modern
design on this particular project, office systems. This was accomplished,
Campbell-Manix offers that service, along Burkhart said, with a generous portion of
with pre-planning, interior design, pre- dark stained cherry finished millwork,
construction and construction services, including baseboards, crown moldings
and a host of others. Campbell-Manix and 3 x 8-foot solid core, raised panel
was established in 1972 and achieved its wood doors.
ISO 9001 certification in 2001. Chase Nestled among rolling wooded hills,
Plastics is also ISO 9001-2000 certified. curving streets, semi-custom residential
Darryl Zammit was the project superin- areas and a few light commercial build-
tendent on the job for Campbell-Manix. ings, the new office blends spectacularly
He came on board approximately well with its traditionally upscale, prima-
halfway through the project, owing to the rily residential neighbors. Having the
retirement of the previous superintend- new building fit well within its neighbor-
ent, and picked up the effort without a hood and creating a homelike atmosphere
lost beat, Burkhart said. “The Chases inside and out were steadfast require-
space in the back of a roofing company’s loved him,” Burkhart enthused. Carole ments of the owners.
building. They have 72 employees now.
“We’re very blessed with incredible peo-
ple,” Kevin said of his employees in offer-
ing his explanation for the company’s
success.
In the past 16 years, the company is
described on its website as having grown
to become one of North America’s lead-
ing and fastest-growing distributors of
specialty engineering thermoplastic prod-
ucts – no easy feat in a state whose econ-
omy has suffered more in that time frame
than many others. In addition to an
enlarged world headquarters in
Clarkston, Chase Plastics also expanded
in its main material distribution facility in
South Bend, Indiana in 2006, from 60,000
square feet to 95,000 square feet; the facil-
ity’s fourth such expansion. The company
serves plastic processors in a variety of
industries out of 20 sales offices and more
than 30 distribution facilities throughout
North America, Canada and Costa Rica.
Faced with limited options to expand at Custom wood cabinetry and an 18-foot table are highlights in the main conference room.

Perhaps one of the reasons the project

came together so well - as the end result
shows and as all who were involved in
the project can attest - is because of what
all say was the outstanding teamwork by
all involved on the job. And that was
driven by Kevin and Carole Chase,
Burkhart noted.
“The project work was a team effort,”
Burkhart said. “This was the most enjoy-
able project I’ve ever been on because of
the Chases.” They were very hands-on
throughout the project, he added. “This
was an incredible team collaboration from
Day 1,” Kevin Chase agreed. “We said at
the onset we wanted an enjoyable process,
that we wanted a win-win situation.”
Though the business is “technology-
reliant,” the Chases said they nevertheless
insist on rapid, personal responses to all
customers. “What we sell is service,” they
noted. They said they feel the key to their
success has been the company’s philoso-
phy of “outrageous customer service.”
They carried that philosophy over to
the construction of their new headquar-
ters. Kevin explained that in their busi-
Draperies, granite and upholstered chairs are among appointments in the executive offices
chosen in part to help create a “home away from home,” with a nod to the amount of time
people spend at their offices.
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ness, they have “high expectations” of Creating an attic space within the Mike Kaiser, mechanical engineering con-
their staff and the business is “all cus- roofline avoids exposing commercial sultant to Lubin. “The result is that it’s
tomer satisfaction.” He said they asked rooftop equipment and the need for easy and simple to maintain,” he
the same on this building project of the screening, Burkhart observed. The hidden observed.
suppliers, contractor, designers and all of mezzanine is a beautifully clean and easy- The HVAC system consists of a variable
the people involved. Carole said they to-access room that houses a state-of-the- air volume (VAV) hot water heat system
wanted the same level of respect that is art HVAC system. A lot of thought and using an 80%+ high efficiency boiler and
obvious among their employees, extend- planning went into the design and con- frequency drives on the air-handling
ed to the people doing the work on the struction of the HVAC mezzanine, said units, explained Dennis Daniewski, proj-
new building. “We really had a great
group of people who never lost sight of
what we were trying to achieve,” she
said.
With respect to the proportionate num-
ber of hours people spend at their jobs,
one of the Chases’ main objectives for the
design of the new office, inside and out,
was to make a home away from home.
Because of that, the interior design
demonstrates the “use of things that you
would more normally see in a home, like
sconces, pendant lighting, wallpaper, and
other things like that,” Carole observed.
“This was my project,” she said,
explaining that that she headed the proj-
ect for Chase Plastics. Perhaps, she said,
that’s one of the reasons the building
radiates a feeling of home, rather than of
an office building. “It’s a pretty warm
building,” Kevin agreed.
The new office building has been con-

TRADITION REIGNS
structed with a traditional red brick

veneer on a structural steel frame over
reinforced concrete foundations, walls
and slabs. The façade goes upscale on the
exterior with such high-end details as cast
stone quoins, copings, stone medallions
and other stone accents. Dimension shin-
gles on a hip roof, set off with decorative
dormers and a cupola, lend a residential
flair to the building exterior, and help the
structure blend seamlessly within its pri-
marily residential neighborhood.
Alternating herringbone and rowlock
masonry positions on the exterior add
visual interest to the running bond
masonry while delineating the entryway.
There are cast stone accents over the win-
dows and decorative stone pilasters add a
vertical element to the façade.
Conspicuously absent on the exterior is
a visible mechanical mezzanine, provid-
ing a clear example of the building design
accommodating the community and con-
structed to look more like a home than an
office. “There are no exposed mechanicals
on the roof or outside,” architect Lubin
said. “That was the way the owners want-
ed it. They wanted the building to be res-
idential in detail.”

A granite-topped reception desk, set off with a wall treatment created of black tile, greets visi-
tors to the Chase Plastics suite. Five different granites were used in the office.
ect manager with HVAC contractor, need to install a new rooftop unit for each
AOUN & CO., P.C. ES/TEAC Mechanical, Livonia. new tenant, and run ductwork down to
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS The air handlers have economizers, the first floor, bothering the second floor
providing free cooling during winter office space in the process. First-floor ten-
months when the outside air temperature ants and the building owners decide how
Understands Construction is below 55F degrees, Kaiser said. The many VAV boxes and thermostats their
& Family Business system uses VAV boxes with heating coils. particular rental space will need.
With a minimum set point, the VAV boxes The building HVAC is managed by a
help maintain proper air ventilation and Direct Digital Control (DDC) system that
Personal • Professional
Financial Statements the hot water coils help prevent over- can be accessed and monitored remotely
Management, Banking, Bonding cooling of the space. The heating coils by the building owners via the Internet,
also provide perimeter heating. Daniewski noted. Otherwise, its opera-
This type of system may cost approxi- tion is 100% automatic.
& Equipment
Tax Planning & Preparation mately 30% more to install, Kaiser noted,
Offers in Compromise, Payment Plans but the payback is in the comfort levels
that can be achieved, the control the own- On the interior, visitors are greeted by a
A GRAND ENTRANCE
ers have in managing the system, and in serene two-story entry designed with
& Audit Representation
Full Service Payroll the energy/cost savings over time. “This floors of 20-inch square, polished porce-
Bookkeeping is a pretty costly system up front,” lain tile in a light cognac color, punctuat-
Daniewski agreed. “However, the system ed at cross sections with groupings of 1-
offers a degree of comfort other systems inch-square dark grey tile. Centered on
QuickBooks Consulting
www.AounCPA.com do not, and savings over time.” the porcelain tile in the entry foyer floor is
As tenants move into the first floor, they a 3-foot 9-inch-square medallion created
(734) 261-9800 can be readily hooked into the main duct- with 6-inch x 12-inch sepia-colored
work infrastructure that has already been carved stone with a matching 6-inch-
installed, Kaiser explained. That infra- square center of sepia-colored tile. The
29701 Six Mile Rd. • Suite 120
structure includes ductwork and hot water outside edge is graced with a double row
Livonia, MI 48152-8602
cpa@aouncpa.com heating piping that runs down a shaft to of the dark grey 1-inch tile and a 14-inch
the first floor ceiling space and is looped porcelain tile in the same dark grey tone.
all around. First-floor tenants hook in All tile in the building was supplied by
from the leased space, eliminating the Livonia-based Virginia Tile Company.
w
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A scrolled ornamental iron and wood spiral staircase, highlighted by

a 16-light, three-tiered chandelier with umber-etched, hand blown
glass shades, leads visitors to the Chase Plastics suite on the second
floor. Porcelain tile dazzles on the floor, while Cambria natural
quartz stair treads offer beauty and stability.
The entry also dazzles with a spectacular ornamental iron and

wood spiral staircase under an equally stunning oiled bronze 16-
light, three-tier chandelier with hand-blown, umber-etched glass
shades. “I really wanted the chandelier to be special,” Young
said. “I wanted it to be the centerpiece. While it’s a new fixture,
the chandelier has the look of a high-end antique.” And, it adds
greatly to the homelike ambience the Chases wanted to achieve,
she observed.
The impressive spiral staircase to the left of the entry door
leads upstairs to the Chase Plastics suite on the second floor. The
staircase is constructed of scrolled ornamental iron painted dark
brown and wood, with Cambria natural quartz stair treads.
“The Cambria quartz used on the staircase was selected because
it’s less slippery, and the color was perfect for our palette,”
Young said. “The texture also added contrast to the foyer porce-
lain.”
Paneled wood double doors give entry on the second floor to
Chase Plastics suite. It’s a lot like entering an English country
estate, with sumptuous yet welcoming colors, materials and
appointments. Dark cherry-stained raised panel solid core dou-

ble doors, paneled walls, porcelain tile

Connolly Masonry Inc.
and carpeting on the floors, and granite
countertops - no less than five different Quality, Value, Timeliness, Integrity
granites - are among the high-end finishes
used throughout. Indirect pendant hung
and Attention to Detail…
lighting and sconces along with a warm Not just words but our commitment.
color palette and such residential features
as sumptuous draperies and a private MIM Certified • Commercial and Industrial
bath in the executive suite, add to the gra-
cious residential feel.
This is a Michigan-based business, so
Young selected artwork featuring such
essential Michigan subjects as automo-
biles, boats and lakes, and it is displayed
throughout the office.
For the design of this facility, it was

BEING NEIGHBORLY
important to the Chases, the architect, the

community, and Independence Township
in Oakland County for the structure to
blend in with the surrounding commercial
and nearby upper-middle class residential
dwellings, Burkhart said. The blend of
brick and cast stone on the exterior was
selected, in fact, to achieve the desired tra-
248-620-2813 • 248-620-2819 fax • 248-361-3471 cell
ditional upscale look. 9706 Andersonville Rd • Clarkston 48346
There are semi-custom single-family
homes and a high-end townhouse devel-
opment nearby. Carole Chase participated
Protect your
in township meetings and meetings of the
nearby neighborhood homeowners asso-
ciation to ensure ongoing feedback from
business
and to the neighbors before, during and
after construction. Township officials have
reported that both the business and resi-
investment.
dential neighbors have endorsed the new
building as a great contribution to the
community. Chase Plastics is continuing
its association with the township and
homeowners group as they work to
enhance the area, located in a planned
urban development. Gardens, pathways,
wetlands enhancement, and bird nesting residential development
Use trained, experienced, licensed
platforms are in the works.
malls
union electrical contractors for reliable,
Rows of mature globe arbor vitae were
planted on raised berms outside to shield
offices
quality maintenance, service, design and
both the office building’s windows and

installation at competitive rates.
the neighboring residential areas on the stores
other side of an existing retention pond
from car headlights accessing the parking commerical properties
lot. Hundreds of trees and shrubs were
planted in the landscaping design that
restaurants
also features the generous use of concrete data networks The Union
pavers and a picnic bench. Contractors and Electricians of IBEW Local 252
A full-unfinished basement in the new video networks
building offers substantial and secure on- telecommunications (734)424-0978
site storage space for Chase Plastics and
first floor lessees. The added storage space
A complete list of contractors is available at:
www.ibewneca252.org
minimizes storage requirements that
intrude into valuable office space upstairs,
Look for the Free 5-year
New Homeowners Electrical
Burkhart noted. Incorporating tenant

Protection Plan

spaces on the first floor of the building provides an economic ous suppliers. A control shade was selected in concert by the
buffer for the building’s immediate operational expenses and owners, interior designer and SBD Commercial, McKillop said.
long-term expandability for the expected continued growth of The risk was taken with respect to the construction schedule, and
Chase Plastics, he added. the result was a pleasing and well-matched end product, he said.
SBD created the stain and shared it with the interior painters and
the door manufacturer.
In addition to providing the general contracting on the project,
GENERAL CONTRACTING AND MORE
Campbell-Manix contributed its design/build expertise, provid-

ing value engineering assistance that saved time and money for The oval-shaped reception area on the second floor welcomes
A COUNTRY ESTATE
the client throughout the project. “We value-engineered a lot of visitors from around the world to Chase Plastics’ headquarters.
things, and drove Gary nuts,” Kevin Chase said. A decorative black granite tile wall treatment behind the recep-
The primary example of that is provided in the millwork, tion desk features 12-inch black tile sparkling with flecks of cop-
Burkhart explained. Due to cost considerations and final allow- per and gold and set on a 45-degree angle. Wood is used gener-
able budgets, millwork had to be designed very late in the proj- ously in the lobby area, including on the granite-topped recep-
ect and became a design-build effort between the owners, interi- tion desk. The effect is elegant, intimate, rich and substantial, yet
or designer, subcontractor and contractor, he said. SBD warm and subdued.
Commercial Interiors, Belleville, did the millwork for the project. Opposite the reception desk a double-wide opening leads to
“He’s a real team player,” Burkhart said of SBD Commercial’s an oval-shaped visitors’ seating area. A grouping of four tufted
president, Douglas McKillop. The company provided millwork upholstered chairs, dark hued wallpaper, ceiling moldings and a
for all the running trim (baseboard, crowns moldings, chair rail, chair rail lend a comfortable feel to the space. The Chases already
etc.), wainscoting, and trim for doors and windows. In addition, owned the chairs in the guest waiting area, upholstered in a flo-
it built all of the wood and wood furnishings in the conference ral pattern with shades of salmon and green on a black back-
room, executive offices and reception area. ground, and interior designer Young was asked to work the color
With long lead times to deal with - up to eight weeks for high- palette around them.
end wood doors, wood crowns, base and millwork cabinets - the The warmth was achieved on the interior in part by not using
materials had to be purchased from different suppliers, Burkhart the color white, Young explained. “The Chases did not want the
explained. They also had to use different sources for wood-stain- color white,” she allowed. Therefore all of the walls are painted
ing, necessitating that a common control sample be sent to vari- in muted yet warm and lively colors, including one grape-toned
SFtEVDUtPMtPtHZ
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XJUIPVUTBDSJmDJOHJOTVSBODFDPWFSBHF
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CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008 $0 “Voice Of The Construction Industry”
wall in the sales room. The color palette consists primarily of

muted terra cotta, golds, greens, warm reds and some black.
All restrooms are wallpapered, painted and tiled, with the
result being almost luxurious, and definitely more like a home
than an office. The men’s room, for instance, is graced with a 2-
inch, multi-colored mosaic tile ranging in color from off-white to
pale gray and pale chocolate. The tile is used on the backsplash
and walls approximately 5 feet up from the baseboard. Above
the tile, the walls are wallpapered. A 16-inch companion tile was
used on the floor.
From the reception area another set of double wood doors
leads to an interior hallway and small inner foyer, with the sales
office in one direction and the administrative offices and execu-
tive suite to the other. The 20-inch, cognac-hued polished tile
carries into this inner foyer and is made even more elegant with
the addition of a dark grey, 1-inch mosaic inlay on the perime-
ter. Young designed the added inlay.
Just past the inner foyer is the main conference room. Dressed
The employee lounge provides kitchen amenities and a space to relax.
in dark cherry stained wood paneling and floor-to-ceiling cus-
tom built-in cabinetry, the room is reminiscent of a refined on budget.”
library. An 18-x 6-foot conference table, custom designed by McKillop said he feels the main thing SBD Commercial offers
McKillop and Young, and built by SBD Commercial, centers the its clients is the business acumen it can provide as well its skills
room. with millwork. “I feel the biggest value-added thing SBD
The owners, interior designer, contractor and SBD Commercial brings to a project, not only for the client but for
Commercial met for several days to design the wood and wood the designers and contractor, is our business management
furnishings for the interior. “It was a collaborative design/build approach to a project,” McKillop said. “We approach this trade
effort,” McKillop said. “The meetings enabled us to keep the segment as a consultative business manager with a manufac-
design intent while allowing us to build the pieces on time and turing capability.”
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they can find quality people to work in the

As the Chases have contributed to the industry in the future.
EDUCATION IS THE THING
surrounding community with a beautiful- Perhaps as an offshoot of the Chase’s

ly designed office building, so too have support of education, they added what
they contributed to the industry that has they call an “Innovation Room” as part of
shown them such spectacular success. In their new office suite. Housing a comput-
2004, they established the Chase Plastics er, small library, a futon and one entire
Annual Scholarship Program for full-time wall of dry-erase board. The room pro-
junior or senior college students in the vides a private space where employees
Plastics Engineering Technology bachelor can relax and think and possibly research
degree program at Ferris State University. ways to improve their jobs and the busi-
Two scholarships are awarded each year ness. Interior designer Young intended to
and are renewable annually. make the room “energizing and inspira-
“Chase Plastics has always placed a tional,” she explained, choosing vibrant
high value on education,” says Kevin colors and artwork with a motivational
Chase on the company’s website. “This aesthetic.
award and scholarship program helps “It’s an employee requirement that each
many students succeed in an industry that employee spend two hours per quarter in
is not only demanding but also technical- the Innovation Room,” Carole Chase said.
ly challenging in its very nature.” The They also think well enough of their
company also established in 2003 the staff to have added an employee’s lounge
Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) area, appointed with cabinets in two dif-
Student Chapter Education Award schol- ferent colors, laminate wood flooring,
arship. “Plastics is an interesting and tables and chairs, and a kitchen area with
Polished porcelain tile, with a dark gray
thriving industry,” Carole Chase said, not- bar top. Just the place to sit back, enjoy the
mosaic tile inlay, carries through to an inner
ing that engaging young people in the surroundings, and maybe come up with
foyer and hallway leading in one direction
industry early on is a necessity, in part, so new ways to satisfy the customer.

to the executive offices, and in the other to
the sales offices.
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SI 2008 68-79 Walsh College 9/26/08 3:04 PM Page 68
A Course in
Advanced
Business
Management
Delivering an Extraordinary Building on a Very Ordinary Budget

By Mary E. Kremposky, Associate Editor Photography by Justin Maconochie
Pontiac, have delivered a sophisticated doctoral program and one of the few spe-
A
t Walsh College in Troy, lessons
learned in Finance 315 or in building with a remarkable price tag of cialty focus market research rooms in the
Management 201 were not left in only $10.6 million dollars. metropolitan Detroit area. “The building
the classroom. They built the classroom. With its angled planes and daring geom- is phenomenal, not only in its architecture,
Business savvy turned modest dollars into etry, the building’s sculptural quality and but also in the way that the spaces were
a stellar, environmentally friendly struc- sheer level of inventive design offers designed to help teach, to meet, and to
ture called the Jeffery W. Barry Center. The Walsh College an image matching its sta- think,” said Stephanie W. Bergeron, presi-
leadership of Walsh College, the Chicago- tus as a premier institution of business dent, chief executive officer of Walsh
based architectural firm of Valerio Dewalt education. The building’s high return on College.
Train Associates (VDTA), and construction investment also includes an optimal learn- At the Barry Center, Walsh College has
manager, George W. Auch Company, ing environment housing the college’s first invested in its own future and the global

future. This sleek, silver-colored building may soon turn LEED honor the memory of Jeffery W. Barry, the man most responsible
Silver in the able hands of a project team who delivered an envi- for Walsh’s amazing transformation. “He expanded our curricu-
ronmentally friendly building on a tight budget through smart lum, taking Walsh from an institute to a college-degree granting
site design and by making full use of a palette of “green” interior institution,” said Bergeron. “But what made him special was his
finishes more in line with the cost of conventional materials. “We personal style. He was well respected by the students, and many
took advantage of the fact that times have changed, and there are would tell you he personally changed their lives. The business
more green products available for our selection,” said Joseph M. people in Troy and in greater Detroit talked about his character,
Valerio, FAIA, VDTA principal and founding partner. his integrity, and his warmth. We are where we are today as an
“Manufacturers of ceiling tile, carpeting and other interior finish- institution because of his foresight and his leadership.”
es now have green products that are just slightly more expensive
or the same price as non-green products.” About 60 to 70 percent MKT 460 - STRATEGIC MARKETING
of VDTA’s projects are LEED with another portion being LEED VDTA was the firm selected to help commemorate Barry’s lega-
equivalent, Valerio added. cy and take the college fully into the corporate world of the 21st
VDTA combined its expertise from the very beginning of the century. The architectural firm has produced daring, cutting-edge
project with the adept construction management services of the designs for the corporate offices of Ebay, Motorola, NBC News,
George W. Auch Company. With 100 years in business and over and a list of clients that reads like the Fortune 500. Locally, Walsh
65 percent of its work performed in the school market, this centen- College was impressed with VDTA’s design of the nearby Kresge
nial company is used to opening school doors on time and work- Foundation Headquarters facility in Troy. “The building pushes
ing within the unmovable budgets of district bond programs. the edges of design,” said Bergeron.
Auch’s keen eye for costs and their creative problem-solving skills VDTA first prepared several design alternatives, allowing
delivered the numbers for this private, not-for-profit college: an Walsh College to select from a menu of design solutions ranging
11- to 12-month construction schedule reduced from the original from hyper-conservative to adventurous. Walsh College could
13 to 14 months, maintaining a tight budget, and absolutely zero have easily replicated the brick boxes of the existing campus, cre-
lost time injuries, according to James Munchiando, Auch vice ating a cookie-cutter structure with a quick payback. But it’s
president and project director. Not too shabby for a complicated never business as usual at this respected and successful business
building formed of angled planes of metal and glass and perfect- college. In short, Walsh decided to build an adventure. “We
ly aligned exterior joints rippling in a seamless line into the inte- decided to break our own mold and let people know that we are
rior. Of VDTA’s and Auch’s work, “we are pleased beyond expec- not the little brick schoolhouse by the side of the road,” said
tation,” said Bergeron.
MGT 453 - ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

A key statistic led to the development of Walsh College’s latest
campus expansion: enrollment had increased by a phenomenal 40 With its angled planes and folded metal plate
percent since 2000, leading Walsh to purchase three additional design, the building has a sculptural quality and a
acres of the former Wattles Farm for its use. The three acres singular presence on the Walsh College campus.
became a new parking area, clearing the way for the conversion of
an existing parking lot into space for a new facility.
The college leadership carefully considered what type of build-
ing to place on this blank expanse of asphalt. More than a new
building, Walsh College was formulating a business plan for the
new Walsh College of the 21st century. The mission statement:
Design and build a signature corporate facility, honor the memo-
ry of a beloved past president, and build a facility whose very
walls and materials would train future business leaders in a green
ethic.
The mission statement grew out of the college’s past. Three dif-
ferent buildings tell the story of Walsh College, originally found-
ed in 1922. Students learned Homer Pace’s accounting system at
the institute’s first home in the Capitol Theater Building in down-
town Detroit. In the next chapter, Walsh appointed the dynamic
Jeffery W. Barry as president in 1969. “The 32-year-old Barry was
the youngest college president in the United States at the time,”
said Bergeron. Barry revolutionized Walsh College, moving the
institute from downtown Detroit to Troy in 1970 and dramatical-
ly increasing enrollment from 330 students to 3,300 students dur-
ing his 20-year tenure. Under Barry’s leadership, the first brick-
clad campus building was constructed in 1970, followed by a
series of five additions built over the course of the next 21 years.
As the next chapter in its history, Walsh College wanted to
move beyond the existing cluster of brick boxes and create a sig-
nature building embodying the forward-thinking energy of the
best U.S. corporations. The building would bear the name and

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Teamwork and a computer-generated grid of 3D coordinates helped the trades install the
angled planes of the main lobby and other key spaces.
Christine Stout, director, facilities and auxiliary services, Walsh College.

“Rather than a hyper-conservative, very institutional kind of environment, Walsh opted
for an environment that a forward-thinking U.S. corporation would be building for their
own people,” added Valerio. “But it wasn’t that they just wanted an adventurous build-
ing. They wanted to make a connection between a Walsh College experience and the expe-
NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT rience students have or will have working in a corporate facility.”
Unrolling the final blueprint revealed plans for an out-of-the-box building embodying
Your source for
the energy and charisma of Jeff Barry, the man whose leadership transformed Walsh
construction industry College in a shift as startling as the innovative building outlined on the plans. Once built,
impartial mediators the exterior of the Jeffery W. Barry Center resembles a sculpture more than a building. The
and arbitrators exterior is formed of a folded metal plane design, meaning a series of angled metal planes,
some slanting inward toward sunken windows and others converging on convex win-
● claims resolution dows – hexagons of tinted glass pushing outward with equal visual force. “The north and
● worksite conflict resolution south faces are a highly sculptural composition of metal and glass angled planes,” said
● grievance & employment Valerio. “The east and west sides are relatively simple and straightforward brick walls
dispute resolution meant to link the new addition to the existing campus. The entire building is a juxtaposi-
tion of two very quiet surfaces and two very active sculptural surfaces.”
● partnering On the angled surfaces, a perfect alignment of panel joints and window mullions stitch-
● union-management relations es together the building’s metal panels and its playful glass geometry. VDTA extended
● cross-cultural training both elements – the sculptural quality and aligned joints - into the building interior. “We
● joint strategic planning didn’t want to create one building on the outside and then a very different building on the
inside,” said Valerio. Angled and undulating ceiling planes – an interior folded metal
where interests converge plate design - are prominent in the lobby and second-level student lounge. The window
agreemements emerge mullions line up with the joints in the angled ceiling and even the joints in the terrazzo
floor. The building’s core reverts to a basic square or rectangular classroom. “We were
deliberately being a little playful on the interior by extending the sculptural quality into
22500 Metro Parkway ● Suite 200 the interior of the building, but we didn’t want to create angled corners that would become
Clinton Township ● MI 48035 unusable spaces,” added Valerio.
Phone: 586-741-0870 Even the “quiet” brick facades on the exterior face contain articulated bricks, adding
Fax: 586-790-4774 shadow and detail to the flat expanse at virtually no cost. “The
www.ncdsusa.org articulation of brick on the east and west faces has a dramatic effect in terms of activating
that brick façade, but it isn’t really an expensive detail,” said Valerio.

Grand Blanc Police
General Contractors / Construction Managers

Since 1908
Henry Ford West Pavilion
Vertical Expansion
100 Years of Building Trust

RELIABILITY
Walsh College
ACCOUNTABILITY
INTEGRITY
How do we grow and take care of existing customers?
• Hard work, and dedication to projects
• Projects that come in on time and within budget
Canton Township Administration Building • Excellent relationships with customers, communities, subcontractors and architects
• We focus on projects that match our experience and our employees
• Dedicated to long term employees who are committed to being part
of a "Best of Class" company
• We work well as teammates and would like to be part of your team
Recent Awards and Acknowledgments:

Walled Lake Central High School
• 2008 Celebrating 100 Years
• 2008 Engineering Society of Detroit Construction & Design Award
Walsh College Barry Center Addition
• 2008 Michigan Masonry Institute – President’s Award – Schoolcraft College
• 2007 INTEX Award Finalist (Carpentry & Resilient Floor)
Grand Blanc Police Headquarters
• 2007 INTEX Award Finalist (Carpentry and Drywall/Ceilings)
Walsh College Barry Center Addition
Detroit Symphony Orchestra • 2007 INTEX Award Finalist (Carpentry) Grand Blanc Police Headquarters
• 2007 American School and University Architectural Portfolio, Outstanding
Building Award – Oakland Community College – Levinson Hall Addition
• 2007 AGC of Michigan Safety Excellence Award
• 2007 Crain’s Detroit Business List of Contractors – #8
• 2007 Engineering News Record Ranking Top 400 Contractors Nationally
• 2006 INTEX Award Winner (Carpentry)
Wyandotte Hospital Center for Health Services Wyandotte Hospital Center for Health Services
• 2006 INTEX Award Finalist (Carpentry) NorthRidge Church Phase III
• 2006 INTEX Award Finalist (Flooring) NorthRidge Church Phase III
• #7 Crain’s List of Contractors 2006
• NAWIC Longevity With Integrity 1997 (1st Award)
• ENR 2006 Ranking Top 400 (#286 Nationally)
• Detroit 300 Heritage Award Oldest Contractor in Southeast Michigan
7 3 5 S . P A D D O C K S T. • P O N T I A C , M I 4 8 3 4 1
2 4 8 . 3 3 4 . 2 0 0 0 • W W W. A U C H C O N S T R U C T I O N . C O M
First United Methodist Church
Community College and the Bloomfield

School District - actually track our esti-
mates,” said Munchiando. “At OCC, we
find that we are within two percent of all
our estimates across the board. At
Bloomfield, an outside group determined
that we were right on the number.”
With its extensive experience in educa-
tion, Auch has developed a well-oiled
machine able to deliver within this chal-
lenging marketplace and bring Walsh’s
new building out of the ground at a mod-
est cost and on a tight schedule. MC2 esti-
mating software is just one of the power
tools in Auch’s high-tech tool belt acquired
to help forecast estimates and track sched-
ule.
Auch even saved the owner money in
the selection of a slightly different type of
exterior metal panel. Originally the select-
ed panels were solid aluminum, but Auch
suggested a switch to a less expensive alu-
minum composite panel formed of a plas-
tic resin between two sheets of aluminum.
“The composite panel still provided the
same look,” said Munchiando.
BBA 410 - ETHICAL CONCEPTS AND

The building’s folded metal plate
BBA 461 - BUSINESS STRATEGY AND PRACTICES
design flows into the interior as shown
POLICY in the angled ceiling planes of this Auch controlled the schedule with equal
Auch joined forces with VDTA as the second-level lounge (above). rigor by beginning construction of the
very beginning of the project. This early parking area and sustainable landscape as
alliance saved immeasurable costs and the building design entered its final stages.
aided the scheduling of this complex “We had to begin site work, including
The triangle is a dominant geometric
37,875-square-foot building. The architect work on the massive parking lot in late
shape in this structure. Even the lights
and construction manager working in the ceiling panels echo the
July 2006,” said Munchiando. “We needed
together – either in person or in cyberspace triangular theme (below).
– is an invaluable budgetary aid, particu-
larly in executing a design with the com-
plexity of the Barry Center. “We were at
some mid-level design point when we
were just going over our budget,” recalled
Stout. “We actually cut a section out of the
building and made it significantly smaller.
We could have gone through the whole
design process, gone out to bid and only
then discovered it’s too expensive.
Because we were working together, we
were able to make that adjustment and
continue forward.”
Added Munchiando, “What we are
doing is feeding the owner information
and helping them make intelligent deci-
sions throughout the process. We take this
approach on all of our jobs.”
Auch’s estimating accuracy is rooted in
its own historical cost database assembled
over the course of the last 15 years.
Containing 25,000 line items, the database
allows Auch to closely monitor cost trends
in the industry and prepare for upcoming
projects. “Two clients – Oakland

ANN ARBOR
to be ready with parking spots for students
returning in the fall.” CEILING & PARTITION CO., LLC
The site is only the beginning of Walsh
College’s LEED initiatives. Combining
business savvy with a green ethic, the proj-
ect proves social consciousness and cost Ann Arbor Ceiling & Partition CO., LLC is one of the largest wall and
consciousness are not mutually exclusive. ceiling contractors in Michigan. We have over 38 years of experience in
The project’s smart site design is the per- the commercial construction industry. We are pleased to have been
fect expression of combining practical, no involved in recent signature projects like the new MGM Casino, Walsh
nonsense business with the green ideal. In College, and the new North Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport. Our success
this dual economy, both cash flow and is attributed to our dedicated staff and our commitment to quality.
stormwater flow determined the nature of
the site.
The goal: retain and filter stormwater
We offer a wide range of services in addition to walls and ceilings.
on site to reduce the amount inundating Some examples are:
the municipal storm system and local • Project Budgeting and • EIFS
waterways. The three-pronged strategy: a Preconstruction Services • Fireproofing
series of bioswales, a constructed wetland, • Doors, Frames, and Hardware • Terracotta Rain Screen Systems
and the placement of a sub base of coarse
aggregate below the parking lot. Because We can also provide a variety of specialty services. We would be happy
the modest budget could not sustain the to provide assistance on your next commercial construction project!
cost of porous pavement, the project team
used coarse, compact aggregate, essential-
PLEASE CONTACT US AT:
ly turning the new parking lot into a
stormwater reservoir. “The spaces Ann Arbor Ceiling & Partition (734) 434-1600 Office
between the coarse aggregate store the 5075 Carpenter Rd. (734) 434-6699 Fax
excess stormwater,” said Scott Oswald, Ypsilanti MI, 48197 www.annarborceiling.com
Auch project engineer. “The water is either
absorbed into the soil, or if excessive, it
makes its way to the constructed wetlands.
The entire north and northeast lots are all
designed for under lot storage of onsite
stormwater runoff.” As a bonus, the park-
ing lot’s sheer size makes it an even more
effective reservoir, converting this sea of
asphalt into an asset rather than a hin-
drance to stormwater control. P R O V I D I N G O V E R
As part of this smart site design, the
stormwater enters the under lot through a
network of bioswales linked to the subsur-
face aggregate. “The bioswales have a spe-
cial soil mix and design to filter the water,” OF E X C E L L E N C E
said Oswald.” The soil is composed of
sand for high drainage capacity and a top-
soil with certain nutrients and a Ph level to
help plants take root and grow.” A con-
structed wetland also captures and filters
stormwater on site.
LEED is literally changing the landscape
in other ways. Once established, native
plants blooming in the bioswales will
require zero irrigation and limited mainte-
nance. This “green” parking lot is built
with asphalt by-products from the demol-
ished parking lot.
Both enlightened and affordable,
Walsh’s LEED initiatives are part of a plan
to use the project as a green teaching tool
for future business leaders and as a benefit
2020 Burdette Street, Ferndale, Michigan 48220 P 248-544-4334 F 248-544-7499
for the broader community. In line with its
good neighbor policy, Walsh College is
doing its part to bring the stars back to

suburban skies. The site’s parking lot efficient to basically pour one foundation.” plate design and its innumerable angled
lighting features special lenses designed to The result is footings and foundation walls and concave, slanted metal panels that
keep the beam low and focused. “They averaging four feet in thickness with some actually function as the rain screen for the
wanted to be sensitive to the neighbors points measuring five or even five-and-a- structure. All the subcontractors had to
and sensitive to the night sky,” said half feet. think in 3D from bid date to the moment of
Oswald. The foundation was the easy part. The installation, tightly coordinating their
entire team had to think in 3D to design work with each other and with the archi-
BIT 305 - BUSINESS COMPUTING TOOLS and install the building’s structural steel tect to create this unique folded plate
With blueprints in hand and permits in frame and its exterior folded metal plate design. Auch worked closely with the
place, foundations began in late October design. “Everybody received a 3D educa- subcontractors even in the bidding stage to
2006. Again, the project team paid astute tion, sometimes 4D,” said Stout. “It was ensure a thorough understanding of this
attention to that basic building block of quite the geometry challenge.” geometric puzzle of a building. “We
construction: money. Auch and VDTA Embedded within the angled planes of worked hard upfront with the contractors
blocked any cost escalation based on the the exterior is a conventional rectangular at bid time, making sure everyone had a
wider foundation needed to support the steel grid that forms the building’s core good handle on the project when they
building’s irregular geometry. “Cost effi- and houses the nine classrooms. A frame- came to the table with their bids,” said
ciency was evaluated with the design team work of exterior structural studs gives Oswald.
early in the project,” said Oswald. shape to the outside wall’s angular geom- Fabrication of each panel to tight toler-
“Essentially, the building required a wide etry. Ross Structural Steel, Detroit, devel- ances was essential to piece together this
footing. (Because the metal panels slant oped the structural frame in a 3D CAD intricate puzzle of angled metal panels
inward, the foundation walls often have to model that was checked against the archi- and irregularly shaped windows on budg-
span a considerable distance to follow the tect’s 3D design. “The architect came into et and on schedule. With no room or
irregular line of the building.) The ques- town, we sat down together and checked money for errors, fabrication, field meas-
tion was, ‘How do we achieve that founda- all the 3D points to make sure they were urement and installation had to be closely
tion? Do we pour two separate footings – consistent,” said Oswald. planned and tightly coordinated. First, the
an inner and an outer – or do we make one The exterior structural studs serve as the exterior wall panels were modeled in 3D
thick foundation?’ We found it was more framework for the intricate folded metal CAD and crosschecked with the architect’s
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3D design drawings. “The shop drawings were then prepared ISO 9001:2000 WBENC ● DBB ● WCBE
and checked by laser in the field once the exterior structural stud
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Taylor, as subcontractor to the metal panel contractor, Ann Arbor
Ceiling and Partition, Ypsilanti went to the jobsite and used laser
technology to check the actual field dimensions needed for the
metal wall panels. In this way, actual field conditions were incor-
porated into the shop drawings prior to fabrication.” Ann Arbor
Ceiling and Partition was responsible for both the exterior folded
metal plate and the interior angled ceiling planes.
The last line of defense to maintain the tight tolerances and the
perfectly aligned joints of every piece of this complicated wall was
the establishment of an actual control line four feet in from the
outside edge of the building directly at floor level. “Instead of
basing their placement on another contractor’s work, each sub-
contractor used this control line,” said Oswald. “All of the con-
tractors could then accurately measure from that inside control
line to the outside grid of points plotted by the 3D design for the
outside wall.” Added Munchiando, “Using this control line
meant that if one person made a mistake, the next person didn’t
make another, further compounding the issue.”
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SPARTAN The building’s playful exploration of

geometric form continues in the fenestra-
to full flame in the stunning lobby with the
facility’s signature angled ceiling planes
SPECIALTIES tion – the pattern of windows and open-

ings in the building face. Far beyond your
basic punch windows, the windows of the
and an expansive glass curtain wall flood-
ing the space with natural light. A feature
wall of perforated aluminum panels spans
LTD Jeffery W. Barry Center are an assortment
of triangles, trapezoids and squares, either
the full height of the two-story space and
adds to the 21st century sensibility of the
receding into the building’s metal skin or new building. Reinforcing the building’s
projecting forward from the concave playful geometry, a contemporary chande-
sculptural exterior. Part of the rhyme and lier of lighted cubes cascades from a pur-
Soil reason behind this virtuoso window dis-
play was the projection technology used in
posively peeled back ceiling tile far above
the lobby floor. This new campus gather-
Stabilization the classrooms. Basically, the projection

technology precluded the use of expansive
windows. “These windows bring in natu-
ing spot has earned the ultimate endorse-
ment. “A gentleman walked into the
building while I was here,” recalled
Solutions ral light very strategically,” said Valerio.
“The building brings light to every class-
Munchiando, “and without knowing my
role in the project, he looked around the
room, but it doesn’t have a whole glass lobby and exclaimed, ‘this place just
wall requiring the constant adjustment of makes you want to donate!’ ”
shades.”
GROUND In turn, the limited window size was MGT 404 - HUMAN RESOURCE
TECHNOLOGIES one reason for the building’s angled
planes. “The angled planes of aluminum
MANAGEMENT
More than a classy corporate lobby, the
focus attention on these relatively small interior provides a stellar educational
Jet Grouting areas of glass,” said Valerio. “This gave environment. The Center contains the
Compaction Grouting what could have been a very solid build-
ing a sense of openness. I think we
Executive Leadership Suite housing the
college’s first doctoral program in man-
Chemical Grouting achieved that open feel, yet at the same
time we haven’t overburdened the interior
agement and a specialized Focus Group
Research Room permitting hidden obser-
Micro Fine Cement with a great deal of daylight that would
have made it more difficult to use the
vation via a one-way viewing mirror and
camouflaged audio equipment. “Having
classroom for the purposes intended.” such a research space is unique for a busi-
ness school,” said Bergeron.
CONCRETE REPAIR MTH 401 - ADVANCED GEOMETRY The first level houses a new library with
The intricacy of the design meant this more computer and movable workstations
Preplaced Aggregate construction class in advanced geometry designed for working individually or in
continued on the building interior. different groups. A 135-person lecture hall
Epoxy Injection Teamwork and a computer-generated grid built in a challenging elliptical shape com-
of 3D coordinates helped the trades install pletes the first level of this completely
Fabric Form Grout Bags the angled planes composing the ceilings wireless building. The second level hous-
of the lobby, second-level lounge, and es nine classrooms, plus conference and
Gunite other interior corridors. “On the interior breakout rooms for team meetings. The
the ceiling contractor had to think and classrooms have flexible workstations for
work with every trade impacted by the reconfiguration, plus an entire wall blan-
angled planes of the ceiling, including the keted in whiteboard from floor to ceiling.
PILES plumbing, ductwork and the lights,” said Bergeron still receives e-mails from fac-
Oswald. “The architect was generous on ulty expressing “what a joy it is to teach in
Mini Piles his drawings in providing three-dimen- these classrooms in every respect. The
sional points.” acoustics, the layout and the flexibility are
Soil Nailing Thanks to a very astute team of subcon- phenomenal.” At the end of a long day
tractors, exterior joints and window mul- Bergeron sometimes walks the halls of the
Earth and Rock Anchors lions are visually pulled into the interior new center as it begins to fill with students
and placed in perfect alignment with the attending evening classes. “That’s when
angled ceiling planes and terrazzo floor this building really comes to life,” said
(586) 826-8811 joints, creating a sense of flow into the
lobby and down the corridors. “The lobby
Bergeron. “There is an air of expectation
and excitement when I see the rooms being
was the point in the building where we used in the way for which they were
6250 Sims most dramatically pulled the exterior into designed.”
the interior,” said Valerio. “Unlike a class- Bergeron recalls a stroll she took
Sterling Heights, MI 48313 room or an office, using an angular plan through the building during construction
doesn’t hinder the use of the space.” with Jane Barry, the wife of the late Jeffery
The building’s creative spark is brought Barry. “I remember her saying, ‘Jeff would

Even the information desk in the main lobby

is in sync with the angled geometry of this
refreshing and bold addition.
HVAC. “As part of daylight harvesting,

the library’s perimeter light fixtures near
the windows sense the amount of daylight
and dim down automatically during the
day,” said Stout.
The building’s white thermoplastic
polyolefin roof membrane reduces the pro-
ject’s contribution to the heat island effect,
because the albedo (the ability of a surface
Expanses of brick material to reflect solar radiation) is higher
link the new for a light-colored rather than a dark-col-
addition to the ored roof. The heat island effect is a rise in
existing campus. urban and suburban temperatures exacer-
bated by the vast expanses of dark pave-
ment and rooftops spread across a metrop-
olis. This temperature rise increases peak
be so proud of the building, but particular- harvested from sustainably managed energy demand, air conditioning costs, air
ly about two components: the way it was forests and certified by the Forest pollution levels, and heat-related illness
designed to teach and its emphasis on eco- Stewardship Council. In the material cat- and mortality, according to an EPA web-
logical responsibility,’” recalls Bergeron. egory, Auch diverted approximately 75 site.
“I could feel chills going down my spine, percent of construction debris from a land- This white roof also reduces the col-
because I knew how much the facility fill, added Oswald. lege’s energy costs. Plus, the roof also has
touched her. That for me was the defining “The building has high-efficiency additional insulation over and above what
moment of the building.” mechanical units with a heat recovery sys- you would find in a typical roof system,”
Forward thinking in form and function, tem, meaning the energy in the building’s said Oswald. “This contributes to the
the building is also progressive in the use exhaust air is used to either pre-heat or energy efficiency of the building and adds
of environmentally friendly materials and pre-cool fresh incoming air,” said Oswald. to the LEED points.”
systems. If Walsh had an actual corporate The heat energy recovery equipment and The project team is submitting the proj-
ladder it would probably be made of recy- other measures optimized energy per- ect for a LEED Silver rating, an amazing
cled materials. In actuality, recycled wind- formance by 20 percent. Added achievement for a building constructed on
shield glass is part of the terrazzo floor Munchiando, “The lobby has radiant in- such a modest budget. Leave it to a
and the second-level staircase steps. floor hydronic heating. Radiant heat respected business college and a talented
Interior “green” materials run the gamut warms objects, not just air, creating an effi- project team of Valerio Dewalt Train
from recycled carpet tiles, natural and cient, comfortable heat. They didn’t want Associates and George W. Auch Company
renewable linoleum desktops in the lec- conventional heating, because of the to carefully shepherd and creatively man-
ture hall, and low VOC paint, as well as expanse of glass windows in the lobby.” age both construction and natural
restroom countertops made of recycled Other energy-efficiency measures resources. Creating a viable future is the
aluminum and millwork formed of lumber include occupancy sensors for lights and ultimate return on investment.

SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:52 PM Page 80
City Chic
MGM Grand Builds
Entertainment Destination
in the Heart of Detroit
PHOTO BY CURT CLAYTON STUDIOS
By Mary E. Kremposky, Associate Editor
ground two-and-a-half months ahead of Anderson/SmithGroup, a joint venture
T
he familiar slogan, “What happens
in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” happily schedule and $15 million under budget. with strong local roots anchored in the
did not hold true during the creation This gaming empire and international urban experience.
of the award-winning MGM Grand hospitality company did not leave success At the same time, MGM Grand Detroit II
Detroit. Las Vegas-based MGM Mirage to chance. MGM Grand Detroit II also recruited the management skills of Tré
brought its project management expertise assembled a team of internationally Builders, LLC, a project management con-
directly to downtown Detroit, building renowned interior designers, and enlisted tractor with a team that has the
this new 2.65-million-square-foot play- the talents of Detroit-based Hamilton qualifications, experience and capability of

SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:52 PM Page 81
managing a project of this size. Glamour of going out of business, remained afloat but all clad in a sophisticated interplay of
without the glitz, this timeless building as a result of this opportunity. For others, inspired finishes. At MGM Grand Detroit,
rises 18 stories above Third Avenue, its it allowed growth and for others expan- everyone can follow his or her own bliss,
stone base and soaring vertical lines blend- sion into the Las Vegas market.” whether its floating like a lotus petal in the
ing with Detroit’s rich stock of early “The workforce in Detroit is amazing,” pool of the incomparably lovely
Twentieth-Century Art Deco skyscrapers. said Mammina. “I have worked in 75 per- IMMERSE Spa or ramping up your relax-
“We were trying to achieve what we cent of all the states and I have never come ation levels in the “night fever” of the
refer to as ‘city chic,’ a stylish look that across a workforce like they have in this award-winning V lounge. Water and fire,
respects the history of Art Deco in area. They did it quickly, and they did it serenity and excitement are all under one
Detroit,” said Ben Mammina, senior vice right. I hated to put the ceiling up, because roof in this destination entertainment com-
president of construction for MGM Grand even the ductwork is beautiful.” plex housing a 400-room hotel, 9,000
Detroit II. “Basically, we wanted to bring While the ductwork is hidden, the well- square feet of nightclub space in six
some of the Las Vegas product to Detroit crafted interior unfolds and reveals a different lounges, 6,000 square feet of
without the glitz. As architect-of-record, series of intimate spaces, some serene and retail, an 18,000-square-foot resort spa for
Hamilton Anderson/SmithGroup did others sizzling with some serious nightlife, both hotel guests and day visitors, and a
great work for us, and Tré Builders suc-
ceeded in gathering together a workforce
of personnel whose talent was surpassed
only by their enthusiasm for this project.
“Tré Builders handled not only the bid-
ding and negotiations for price, schedule, In Agua and other MGM lounges, spaces become experiences with the aid of a
terms and scopes of work, they also nego- $20 million dollar information system. Using video projection, Agua’s ceiling
tiated the contracts and supervised the simulates water; sound-sensitive equipment then translates clapping, laughter
or any other noise into ripples on the surface of the “water.”
daily work on the jobsite,” Mammina con-
tinued. “MGM Grand Detroit handled all
the payments and accounting.” In addi-
tion to their administrative experience and
qualifications, Tré Builders supervised and
managed the day-to-day construction
activities of 105 local subcontractors. The
liaison between Tré Builders and the man-
agement of these contractors brought this
vision of ‘city chic’ to life at the intersec-
tion of Third and Bagley Avenues in
downtown Detroit.”
The opportunity to expand contract
opportunities to companies outside
MGM’s traditional base was not left to
chance. SSmith & Associates, a consulting
services firm with offices in Southfield and
Las Vegas, was engaged because of its suc-
cess in helping companies utilize small,
local, minority and women-owned busi-
nesses. In addition to the Hamilton
Anderson/SmithGroup, some 100 compa-
nies were awarded contracts because of
MGM Grand’s commitment to diversity.
This commitment extended to construc-
tion contractors and suppliers, as well as
professional service companies, including
architects, engineers and consultants.
“Only a handful of companies were large
enough to bid directly, so we ‘teamed’
them with larger contractors as subs, so
they could participate,” stated Susan
PHOTO BY BETH SINGER PHOTOGRAPHY
Smith, president of SSmith & Associates, a

firm dedicated to improving the utilization
of emerging businesses by major corpora-
tions in construction and operations. “The
project had been anticipated since the
opening of the temporary casino in 1999.
Some companies, who were on the brink

SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:52 PM Page 82
A TIMELESS BUILDING BUILT IN A TIGHT

TIMEFRAME
MGM played its cards right in selecting
a fully assembled parcel of land, avoiding
the hassles and higher costs of painstak-
ingly acquiring properties from diverse
owners. The 25-acre parcel was a former
parking lot for DTE Energy located close to
freeways and facing the heart of the down-
town business district, said Mammina.
Hamilton Anderson/SmithGroup creat-
ed a utilitarian and a city edge for this
massive complex. Utilitarian or back-of-
house services are placed along the site’s
western border near the Lodge Freeway.
Moving north to south, the massive com-
plex stretches along Third Avenue, bends
at a 45-degree angle, and aims the south
end of the hotel tower directly towards the
heart of downtown Detroit. “The south
face is the property’s symbolic front door
to downtown Detroit,” said Tom Sherry,
AIA, LEED AP, Hamilton Anderson
Associates design principal and Hamilton
Anderson/SmithGroup joint venture
design lead. “This corner offers an excit-
ing opportunity to address traffic flowing
to MGM Grand from the major thorough-
fare of Michigan Avenue in downtown
Detroit.”
Approached from downtown Detroit,
the south end’s clever angle of placement
gives this sprawling, suburban-size devel-
opment the appearance of being a free-
MGM’s soaring 18-story hotel tower easily standing, pencil-thin skyscraper comfort-
blends into the fabric of Detroit’s downtown ably woven into the existing urban fabric.
business district and its stock of early MGM Grand’s extensive length along
Twentieth-Century Art Deco skyscrapers. PHOTO BY CURT CLAYTON STUDIOS Third Avenue is broken into a series of
three entrances, again translating what
could have been a typical suburban build-
ing into an urban vernacular. “The length
host of restaurants, ranging from name diversity, your projects take longer and along Third Avenue is so substantial, we
chef establishments to quick serve, as well cost more money. We had a totally oppo- were trying to present more of an urban
as a third level devoted to convention and site experience in Detroit where we came solution to the street,” said John Sobetski,
meeting space. For gaming buffs, the casi- in under budget, we finished early, and project manager, Hamilton
no floor in the heart of it all has 4,500 slot our project is winning awards all over the Anderson/SmithGroup joint venture. The
machines and 90 table games. United States.” joint venture is a perfect fit for this project.
Over 2.3 million work hours were MGM Grand Detroit has already been Both firms are strongly committed to revi-
poured into the creation of this massive named the American Lodging Investment talizing Detroit’s urban fabric. Under its
entertainment emporium, including the Summit development of the year, a presti- original name of Smith, Hinchman &
construction of 7,300 parking spaces locat- gious honor possibly unknown to the Grylls, SmithGroup is a 155-year-old archi-
ed in a subterranean valet area below the average person but ranking as the tectural firm responsible for designing
casino and in a nine-level self-parking Academy Award of the hotel business. many of the prominent Art Deco skyscrap-
garage anchoring the north end. Design, “That award is the equivalent of the ers woven like a bright thread through
craftsmanship, and project management Oscar,” said Mammina. “MGM Grand downtown Detroit.
coalesced into this amazing $800 million Detroit was competing against major proj- This citadel of stone and glass blends
dollar entertainment hub in Detroit. ects on the West and East Coasts. I don’t with downtown Detroit and with some of
“About 47 percent of all the money we think that in the 30 years I’ve been in this the lighter limestone-colored buildings of
spent was with targeted businesses, mean- business, I have ever seen anybody out- the DTE Energy campus next door. “It is
ing women, minority and Detroit-owned side of the East Coast or West Coast ever very important that the building looks like
businesses,” said Mammina. “Some win the award.” it belongs in essentially a 100-year-old
believe that if you have high levels of downtown,” said Sherry. “The real driver

SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:53 PM Page 83
of the design was to place a high-quality, timeless building on the

downtown site versus a trendy type of entertainment venue. For
this reason, we used timeless materials, such as precast concrete
with natural stone aggregate, a black polished precast base with
some use of granite toward the very base of the building, and a
glass curtain wall system of high quality.”
This timeless building, however, was constructed on a very
tight timeline. In the short span of only two years, MGM Grand
Detroit’s entertainment empire took root and rose from a mere
concept on a blueprint to the towering building and host of spe-
cialty spaces contained within its stone and glass walls.
Design and construction of this sophisticated entertainment
complex occurred almost simultaneously, taking place within a
brief stretch of time from September 2005 to September 2007.
“The core design challenge was the raw speed of the project,” said
Sobetski. “We had to be very nimble on our feet and make good
decisions very quickly.”
Easing the process, MGM Grand and the joint venture architec-
tural team have a long history of working together as a tight unit.
MGM enlisted the services of Hamilton Anderson/SmithGroup
for the design of the temporary MGM complex and for assistance
in winning the competition for the current casino license. The cur-
rent project was set in motion several years before September
2005, but legal issues put all casino construction on hold in Detroit
from 2003 to 2005. Once resumed, the programming of the build-
ing was altered. “The basic footprint of the building remained the
same, but there were some pushes and tugs on the building as the
program had changed from the earlier program,” said Sobetski.
“Our first priority was to make sure the structure was accurate.
We had to make sure that the entire ‘box’ was correct, so the steel
could be ordered and fabricated while caissons were installed in
the ground.”
THE BEST PARKING SPOT IN TOWN

With building permits for foundations and structure in hand,
the “game” officially began on Sept. 19, 2005. Lady Luck in the
form of good weather aided in the rapid placement of 150 caissons
below the entire complex from hotel tower to parking structure.
MGM’s strategy was to place the caissons and structural frame
swiftly, leaving ample time for the intricate, labor-intensive finish-
es blanketing the interior of this entertainment hub. “Because our
projects have a great deal of finishes, we often have 800 to 900
people working at the end or finish portion of the job,” said
Mammina. “To accelerate jobs with that many people costs a
great deal of money at that time, so we always accelerate at the
beginning of the job when fewer people are involved. We hit the
caisson portion of it very hard with several rigs on site.”
Rohrscheib Son Caissons, Inc., New Hudson, worked six days a
week to install caissons by January 2006, drilling through the soft
clay of downtown Detroit to hit bedrock at about 120 feet below
grade. Almost in the blink of an eye, caissons for the self-parking
garage were finished in October 2005, followed in rapid succes-
sion by caissons or drilled piers for the casino in November 2005
and hotel tower caissons in December 2005.
As the clay-encrusted auger rose from the last drilled pier,
Hamilton Anderson/SmithGroup began preparing blueprints for
the building envelope and interior in January 2006. In this tight-
ly sequenced job, the construction team then turned towards the
task of bringing the first post-tensioned, cast-in-place concrete tier
out of the ground. Detroit saw its first glimpse of MGM Grand as
the concrete parking deck poked through the cold mud and
reached grade in January 2006. “There was one level below grade,

SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:53 PM Page 84
but we reached the street with structure in it has much larger expanses and much
January 2006, and our last pour for the larger bays,” said Sobetski. “With the
nine-level parking deck was in August hotel, we could obtain a very compact
2006,” said Mammina. structural system with good ceiling
Rapid construction was essential to heights by going with a cast-in-place con-
service DTE employees who once used the crete frame. It is a very efficient use of
MGM site as a parking lot. “DTE had to space.”
rent spaces in downtown Detroit, so our The hotel tower began its rise 18 stories
goal was to get the parking deck open and above grade in March 2006 with Colasanti
bring back DTE personnel as soon as pos- Specialty Services, Inc., Macomb Twp.,
sible,” said Mammina. performing the seemingly impossible:
DTE clearly emerged as a winner in the pouring almost a floor a week using slip or
parking sweepstakes. “They had this big flying forms as the building rose skyward.
piece of land that they were really only MGM worked with Colasanti on a guaran-
using for parking,” said Mammina. teed maximum price (GMP), cost plus fee
Parking outdoors in Michigan’s fickle basis to meet the rigorous schedule.
weather is no longer an issue for DTE “Working with us, not only were they
employees who now enjoy reserved areas building the 18-story hotel at about a floor
in the newly built parking deck. a week, but they also saved us $10 million
MGM opted for a parking deck with a dollars over what the low bid was,” said
post-tensioned, cast-in-place structural Mammina.
concrete frame, a seldom-used structural MGM Grand issued the concrete,
system for a Michigan parking garage. mechanical and electrical work on a GMP,
“Aesthetically, we believe the cast-in-place cost plus fee basis. “It’s a negotiated fee
looks nicer, because the ceilings are flat ranging between 5 and 10 percent,” said
rather than waffled,” said Mammina. “We Mammina. “Essentially, they are not at
also painted them white and raised the risk, for as the job continues they are reim-
ceiling by about two feet above a standard bursed for their costs and get a negotiated
parking garage, creating a bright facility fee on top of it. The pressure is off. The
with a more welcoming and less confining good thing is we get greatly reduced fees
feel. Functionally, the cast-in-place struc- because we don’t put anybody at risk.”
ture has fewer maintenance require- In MGM Grand’s game, timely payment
ments.” is not a gamble. “We had 105 subcontrac-
Sobetski summarized the advantages of tors, and by the end of 2007 about 90 per-
using post-tensioned concrete: “The use of cent were closed out,” said Mammina.
post-tensioned concrete is a little unusual “Everybody was paid 100 percent. By
in a parking deck. The advantage of post February, 100 percent were closed out,
tensioning is the concrete is always in meaning everyone was paid.”
compression, so the garage is not subject to MGM Grand’s owner-controlled insur-
cracking. Without cracks, road salt from ance program saved costs and boosted
cars cannot enter and corrode the rebar. If safety. “All of the contractors bought the
any cracks did occur post-tensioning insurance from us,” said Mammina. “We
would keep them tight and closed.” saved about $4 million, and we had a $4
The parking deck opened in December million refund on the insurance as well
2006, two-and-a-half months ahead of because the workers were very safety con-
schedule. MGM and its team of local sub- scious. We ended up with a Projects Days
contractors maintained the accelerated Away case rate of 1.01 as compared with
pace throughout the course of this well- the industry average in Michigan of 4.2.”
sequenced project, saving time and money.
“Most of the savings came from the early DIVIDE AND CONQUER
completion of the project,” said Mammina. Essentially, divide and conquer was the
“Just as if you had a construction loan, the basic strategy for delivering this mam-
actual cost of the money is about a million moth $800 million dollar project early and
dollars a week.” under budget. The project was split into
four pieces: the guest and employee park-
WORKING WITH A SAFETY NET ing structure; the subterranean valet park-
Next on center stage was construction of ing below the casino; the hotel tower; and
the three-story casino’s structural steel the casino. “Plus, we had about a dozen
frame and the hotel tower’s post-ten- superintendents on the job versus the
sioned, cast-in-place concrete frame, again three or four that might typically work on
a relative rarity in Michigan. “The casino a large project,” said Mammina.
is a steel-framed building, mostly because However, one crucial facet was not

SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:53 PM Page 85
SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:54 PM Page 86
The schedule never slackened despite tight

market conditions for glass around the
globe and the installation of the detailed
mullion patterns on the glass tower, said
Mammina.
The same tight sequencing played out in
the hotel interior. “With a hotel with so
many floors, we were actually finishing
the interiors before there was even a roof
on,” said Mammina. “We were installing
drywall, plumbing and other interior com-
ponents before the building actually was
enclosed, taking precautions and using
temporary protection.”
The same strategies were used to build-
out the diverse interior. “Because of the
building’s size, we contracted with a
whole host of different interior designers,”
said Mammina. Interior construction
flowed from north to south.
“Construction-wise, the metal deck and
steel framing started on the north side of

the project and worked its ways south,”
said Mammina. “There were areas in the
casino that were finished with drywall
ceilings, all the mechanical work and all
the electrical installed, and everything
even painted, but when you got to the
other end of the casino there was nothing
but a shell.”
With its grand opening on Oct. 2, 2007,
MGM Grand’s hotel guest lounge on the
subdivided, shaving time and money off MGM Grand Detroit now brightens this
17th floor offers patrons a relaxing
the project. “We set the estimators – our ambiance and fine hors d’oeuvres. corner of downtown Detroit. At night, the
project managers – in the designer’s play of white light washes over the glass
offices, making estimating part of the tower and softly accents its precast base of
design process,” said Mammina. “ I think natural stone aggregate. The dramatic
we are very good at understanding the MGM Grand offers guests the backlighting and accent lighting brings the
designer’s intent. We can grab hold of the opportunity to get away from it all in building to life, turning white light almost
design vision and make it cost effective. this penthouse living and dining room. into a material cladding. “We tried to
For example, say we are going to spend a
$1,000 dollars a square-foot on a particular
restaurant. Perhaps, $75 dollars a square-
foot is reserved for the ceiling, but the
design comes in at $85 dollars a square-
foot. We then give the designer the option
of keeping his design or taking $15 dollars
a square-foot off of the floor or walls.
Essentially, when the designers and esti-
mators are finished, the price negotiations
have already been done. The first time our
people actually ever see a design we know
it is in budget.”
THE RACE TO THE FINISH

The MGM Grand juggernaut continued
its swift march toward completion, top-

ping off the hotel in October 2006 and
installing the single-ply roof in November
2006. As the concrete tiers rose into the
skyline, the precast base and glass tower
swiftly enclosed the building only five to
six stories below the tower’s leading edge.

SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:54 PM Page 87
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This boardroom is only part of MGM Grand’s
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ADDITIONAL STOCK ITEMS
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SI 2008 80-89 MGM 9/26/08 2:54 PM Page 88
design rather than a specific theme. “We Borovsky. Teak blocks and an ornamental
wanted it to be stylish and contemporary metal screen complete the upscale eatery’s
but not cold, so warm colors and millwork material showcase. SALTWATER contains
were chosen as part of the casino spaces,” mosaic tile ceilings, beautiful millwork,
said Barrie G. Borovsky, vice president of and plaster placed free-form on the walls
planning and development, MGM Grand to resemble rippling pools of water.
Resort Development. Hamilton More than static spaces, the interior is “a
Anderson/SmithGroup coordinated the collection of very unique, very well-
design intent of the team of renowned thought out experiences,” said Sherry.
interior designers. Borovsky managed and Masters of showmanship, MGM Grand
interfaced with the entire design and invested in a $20 million dollar informa-
architectural team. tion system as part of the interior experi-
A collaboration between Hamilton ence. In the popular lounge called Ignite,
Anderson/SmithGroup, Cleo Design and video screens simulate a wall of ice cubes
Archavision, the main casino never over- each melting in a ring of fire. The tableau
whelms the visitor with a cavernous, over- subtly shifts across the wall every 7 min-
bearing expanse. “The casino floor is a utes. Even Ignite’s elevator floor contains
large space broken up into a dozen or so hidden video screens simulating flames
smaller spaces through different types of flickering below your feet. The screen
lighting and varied colors,” said Sherry. changes to a pool of water as the elevator
The entire interior is broken into a series of descends and exits at the aquatically
warm, intimate spaces all designed on a themed Agua lounge. “Using video pro-
comfortable, human scale. jection, the ceiling inside Agua simulates
water, creating the effect of being under
MATERIAL SPLENDOR water,” said Mammina. “The sound-sensi-
The casino interior is similar to a city street MGM Grand searched the globe to tive equipment picks up laughter, clap-
with a “buffet” of sophisticated restaurants, obtain the expertise of a select cadre of ping or any other noise and translates it
lounges and retail shops arranged along the internationally renowned interior design- into ripples on the surface of the ‘water.’”
perimeter of the central gaming area. ers, including Superpotato, Tokyo, Japan; The building’s actual systems also con-
Tony Chi & Associates, New York City; tain some unusual infrastructure. “The
Jeffrey Beers International, also of New HVAC system is tied into a smoke release
York City; Cleo Design, Las Vegas; system, meaning in the event of a fire the
Archavision, New Port Beach; and Harris HVAC enters a mode designed to actually
Design, a Hamtramck firm that designed control the smoke,” said Sobetski. “Such a
the video poker bar, the executive offices, system is not often used.” Plus, the HVAC
and Breeze, an upscale food court. As a system is designed for over 90 percent
result, inspired materials blanket virtually fresh air, an uncommon level of air
every square inch of interior space. A wall exchange.
of small, gray pebbles serves as the As another seldom-used building sys-
entrance to the restrooms, small blocks of tem, MGM Grand has four 2,000 kva gen-
polished wood, arranged at varying angles erators able to place approximately 75 per-
and assembled in an intricate jigsaw puz- cent of the building on emergency power.
zle, form the entrance to one of the many “Typically, a building has about 10 percent
eateries; and a massive tableau of polished of its electrical needs on emergency
stone forms the backdrop of the hotel power,” said Sobetski. In yet another
lobby. The casino buffet, called Palette, is a unusual approach, the casino floor has
large dining facility with a 580-person what is known as an electrified floor sys-
seating capacity. The massive eatery is tem. “It is a series of trenches built into the
subdivided so skillfully by curvilinear concrete floor which allows the casino to
metal louvers and art walls of bottled vine- run cabling for all the gaming machines,”
gars no one would ever guess its true size. said Sobetski. “It is a very flexible system.
Panels formed of molded fiber reinforced If they want to reorganize the placement of
polymers and backlit by shifting LED gaming machines, this system allows
lights add to MGM Grand’s long list of rerouting without drilling new holes in the
unusual, inspired materials. floor or rerouting wires.”
Bourbon Steak House is an artful MGM Grand’s sophisticated finishes
arrangement of reclaimed wood beams and efficient systems extend into large sec-
from old Maine barns, a feature wall of tions of the 250,000-square-foot back-of-
blue and glass bottles, and reclaimed brick house area designed by Hamilton
from Detroit buildings. “The grout is Anderson/SmithGroup for MGM Grand’s
placed far back from the edge, giving a 3,200 employees. The employee dining
floating effect to the entire brick wall,” said room rivals most corporate cafeterias and

SI 2008 80-89 MGM 10/2/08 12:15 PM Page 89
is one of the best of any MGM facility, said Sherry. “It has been well received within Grille, and unwinding at IMMERSE Spa,
Borovsky. This appealing eatery features the corporation, and ranks as one of their all without even entering the casino floor.
Pewabic tile, a bubbling fountain, and top properties nationally and globally.” Business and pleasure is a beautiful mix at
millwork. MGM staff also enjoys a break Far beyond a casino, MGM Grand’s MGM’s third-level convention area, con-
room called Chill and a smoke room entertainment venues are attracting people taining six meeting rooms, two board-
named Puff. The joint venture also provid- from throughout metropolitan Detroit and rooms, a grand ballroom, and 8,000 square
ed the landscape design, master planning, beyond. With its diverse offerings, people feet of pre-function space.
space planning and programming for who never dropped a token into a slot Open for less than a year, metropolitan
MGM Grand Detroit. An impressed MGM machine but love fine food can dine on the Detroit and the Midwest are only begin-
has enlisted Hamilton Anderson to work creations of two name chefs, namely ning to discover the treasure in their own
on its new CityCenter project in Las Vegas, Michael Mina and Wolfgang Puck. “For backyard, courtesy of the efforts of hun-
where Hamilton Anderson has now even example, Oakland County is a great cus- dreds of companies, the long-standing
established an office. tomer in Las Vegas, but they had not been joint venture of Hamilton
The lavish living room of the hotel with a great customer in their own backyard,” Anderson/SmithGroup, and MGM Grand
its fireplace extending the width of an said Borovsky. “What do they end up Detroit II. Blessed with such a phenome-
entire wall and towering columns clad in doing in Las Vegas? They were going to all nal entertainment destination, any roll of
rich millwork. The tower contains 400 the new stylish restaurants with all the the dice is bound to land on a winning
hotel rooms, 20 percent being suites as chef names, so we decided to bring those combination.
opposed to the 10 to 15 percent in a stan- restaurants closer to them.”
dard hotel, said Mammina. “We were MGM Grand’s floorplan offers visitors
challenged with delivering a property that the option of staying at the hotel, imbibing
embodied the corporate standard,” said at the lobby bar, dining at Wolfgang Puck

SI 2008 90-97 735 Forest 9/26/08 3:42 PM Page 90
Triangulating
IN BIRMINGHAM
L
BY DAVID R. MILLER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR PHOTOS BY GEORGE DZAHRISTOS
ong before the staples of life could angle between the shore and the ship at Templeton Building, Rochester Hills,
be found at sprawling retail stores, two different locations, using a technique along with architect Victor Saroki &
approaching ships meant a fresh known as triangulation. Like the position Associates Architects, PC, Birmingham,
supply of basic necessities that are taken of a far off ship, many unknowns can be have employed a unique approach
for granted in modern times. Ships on the determined by simply looking at them towards this goal at 735 Forest. The
horizon were met with a combination of from more than one vantage point. Birmingham mixed-use building was care-
wonder and impatience, but those who Charting a course to project success is fully designed to let retail, office and resi-
had knowledge of trigonometry often getting increasingly difficult given the dential users all benefit from each other,
knew exactly when they would arrive. muddied waters of Michigan’s current making the facility a 24-hour hub of urban
Land-based observers could determine the economy. Construction managers Mosher, excitement. Innovative green technologies
distance to the ship by measuring the Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly, Birmingham, and also put the building at the forefront of

SI 2008 90-97 735 Forest 10/2/08 12:19 PM Page 91
Woodward Avenue. Site of the Woodward “Historically, the buildings of the

Dream Cruise and the world’s first mile of Triangle District have been a mix of com-
concrete road, Woodward isn’t as much a mercial buildings with some family resi-
road as it is an icon of America’s car cul- dences,” explained Victor Saroki, FAIA, of
ture. Each day, thousands of vehicles Victor Saroki & Associates Architects, PC.
drive this traffic mainstay that flows from “The commercial buildings were usually
Pontiac all the way into the heart of Detroit smaller, with one or two stories and their
– yet sitting just a few feet away is own parking lots, which made them a little
Birmingham’s trendy, and entirely pedes- bit out of the character of downtown
trian-friendly, downtown. Birmingham.”
Birmingham’s downtown thrives on the Zoning in downtown Birmingham was
west side of Woodward, but the busy thor- much more urban in nature, allowing for
oughfare effectively kept any of the excite- structures built right up to the lot line.
ment from spilling over to the east side. Five nearby parking structures eliminated
The road also runs diagonal to the pre- the need for individual lots. The building
dominant street grid, combining with at 735 Forest was originally envisioned as
Adams and Maple Roads to form the a two-story office building more similar
boundaries of the Triangle District. Like with other Triangle District structures, but
any neighborhood, the Triangle District the project team applied for a variance and
gradually developed its own character. made a major transformation to take
g
M
current trends. This dual focus on inven-
tive mixed-use and sustainability provides
the points from which success can be trian-
gulated upon – making the building a fit-
ting addition to Birmingham’s Triangle
District.
PHOTO BY MATT AUSTERMANN
THE TRIANGLE DISTRICT

Some towns have rivers running The second floor is dedicated for office
use, including the new space for Mosher,
through them, but Birmingham has more
Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly, seen here.
of a stream – a traffic stream carried by

SI 2008 90-97 735 Forest 9/26/08 3:42 PM Page 92
advantage of a new zoning ordinance that promising quality. The project team saved value-engineered a 24-guage steel panel
was designed to make the area more urban thousands of dollars by working with code that we could fabricate ourselves.”
and pedestrian-friendly. officials to put water and sanitary lines in Much like the cost-efficient crown detail
A third floor was added to house 11 for- the same trench and to branch domestic and the high-end manufactured composite
lease residential lofts, averaging 1,100 water service off the main fire suppression panels, many aspects of the building offer
square feet, bringing the building total up line. The sewer line was also relocated to a combination of benefits.
to 35,000 square feet. A 65-seat bistro, another side of the building, which
operated by renowned Chef Brian Polcyn, allowed for a deeper trench and a gravity
is a first floor addition that was facilitated fed system. This led to substantial savings True urban environments are always in
MIXED BLESSING
by the new zoning. The second floor is when bathrooms were added to the base- motion because they contain large, diverse
dedicated for office use, including new ment, as costly mechanical equipment groups of people and provide them with
spaces for Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly would have otherwise been needed to lift lots of exciting things to do. Mixed-use
A 65-seat bistro, operated by renowned Chef Brian Polcyn, was added to the first floor under new zoning that was designed to make the area
more urban and pedestrian-friendly.
and Templeton Building. waste up to grade level. buildings are ideal for developing urban
The Triangle District may eventually Subcontractors and professional con- environments because they encourage
have its own parking structure, but none sultants used their expertise to provide round-the-clock activity.
exist at this time, so a covered parking area additional savings. A necessary change “Along with downtown Birmingham,
was shoehorned into the building. Use of from 36” to 30” bar joists was projected to the city planners want the Triangle District
a precast planking system let the project add $30,000 in material costs, but a simple to be active 24-hours a day,” said Saroki.
team maximize lower level space, allow- change to the phalanges reduced this to “The only way to create 24/7 activity in a
ing for the additional storage needs of the $2,000. Along with installing DuroLast city is to have people living there.”
residential users and a combination of PVC single-ply membrane roofing for the Putting retail, residential and office
spaces to support the bistro. Despite the project, Allen Brothers Roofing, Inc., spaces under one roof creates a synergy
sudden evolution of the project, some Rochester Hills, also cut costs by propos- that lets each benefit from the other. The
things never change. ing more economical use of Citadel bistro at 735 Forest has a built-in clientele
“We had a fixed budget even though we Envelope 2000“ composite panels, manu- of loft dwellers and office workers.
made a moving target for an end product,” factured by East Cost Metal Systems Inc., Residents can get meals prepared by a
said John Kelly, principal for Mosher, on the third floor. world-class chef without setting foot out-
Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly. “We obviously “A composite panel is one of the most side, while office tenants have a conven-
had to add a budget for the third floor, but expensive materials you can put on the ient lunch spot for clients. Future Triangle
everything else was absorbed by the exist- exterior envelope,” said Brian Marceau, District buildings will also benefit from a
ing budget and that was no small task.” estimator/project manager for Allen steady stream of foot traffic generated by
A number of innovative ideas were uti- Brothers. “There is a crown detail that was 735 Forest.
lized to stretch the budget without com- also going to be a composite panel, but we Mixed-use buildings are also desirable

SI 2008 90-97 735 Forest 10/2/08 12:19 PM Page 93
from an environmental standpoint

because they encourage more efficient use
of resources. Instead of creating a space
for every car that will park at the building
over the course of a day, the project team
carefully planned around anticipated
demand. Residential parking needs peak
at night, with office spaces needing more
parking during the day. Earmarking a
number of parking spaces for office users
during the day and loft dwellers at night
maximizes their function.
The project team also worked with
neighbors to ease parking concerns. Since
the bistro will likely be busiest at night, the
project team worked with neighboring
office buildings to secure an agreement to
use their parking spaces after office hours.
The activity generated by 735 Forest bene-
fits the entire area, which gives all nearby
facility owners an excellent incentive to
PHOTO BY MIKE MELESKI

cooperate.
All of the benefits associated with
mixed-use buildings begs an obvious
question: If they’re so great, why aren’t
more people building them? An alliance with Dow Building Solutions led to the development of the Thermax Total Wall
“The reason that people aren’t running System, which saw its first worldwide application at 735 Forest.
C O M M E R C I A L
www.mosherdolan.com (248) 258-9453

SI 2008 90-97 735 Forest 9/26/08 3:43 PM Page 94
A third floor was added to house 11 for-lease residential lofts, averaging 1,100 square feet each.
to do mixed use buildings is that they are Cataldo & Kelly, that project was 735
very complicated,” said Kelly. “With mul- Forest, but it took an infusion of fresh
tiple uses come multiple codes.” thinking to convince the project team.
Noise was also a key factor. Bistro visi- Deirdre Greene Groves, special projects
tors tolerate more noise than other users, coordinator and green specialist for
but they will also generate it. Office work- Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly, is current-
ers, on the other hand, tolerate occasional ly working towards a Master’s Degree in
noises, but nothing that distracts them Urban Planning and Real Estate
from their tasks. Loft dwellers are the least Development at the University of
tolerant of noise, often simply wanting to Michigan, and she eagerly accepted the
relax undisturbed. challenge of bringing green building tech-
Placing the office floor in-between the niques out of academia and into the real
quiet residents and noisier bistro elimi- world. She quickly found that the profes-
nates much of the potential for noise com- sionals at Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly
plaints. This also separates the residents already had the necessary skills.
from smoke, grease and deliveries that are “Green building is a basic function of
inherent to a restaurant operation. Three quality and architecture,” said Steve
separate entrances and two designated ele- Marszalek, principal for Mosher, Dolan,
vators will also keep different user groups Cataldo & Kelly. “A building that is ener-
apart. Mechanical equipment was careful- gy-efficient, with quality architecture and
ly placed to prevent noise transmission mechanical systems, is inherently more
and cast iron piping was used to insulate valuable in the marketplace and our firm
the sound of water trickling through. has always focused on quality. Green
Different uses are carefully separated at building essentially just provided a bench-
735 Forest, but all of the spaces are unified mark for where our product already was.”
by consistent green design. An understanding of the merits of green
construction doesn’t always translate into
a firm belief in LEED. Convincing the
Most Michigan contractors are familiar team to consider LEED was Greene
OLD FASHIONED GREEN DESIGN
with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Groves’ next hurdle.

(USGBC) Leadership in Energy and “We were already building green, so
Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Deirdre’s ‘homework’ was to convince us
Rating System, but nothing can replace the that LEED wasn’t just some off-the-wall
practical experience gained from a firm’s set of abstract criteria,” said Kelly. “When
first LEED project. For Mosher, Dolan, she showed us that LEED was a legitimate

SI 2008 90-97 735 Forest 9/26/08 3:43 PM Page 95
measuring system, and that we were the building were given considerable tive roofing. Many building elements offer
already working up to that standard any- scrutiny. The superstructure at 735 Forest a combination of recycled content and/or
way, it became worthwhile.” is typical concrete and steel construction, manufacture within a 500-mile radius.
Mixed-use buildings fit in well with as steel has significant recycled content Some products are also manufactured in
land use guidelines stipulated under and the concrete mix includes a higher plants that utilize their own innovative
LEED because they encourage efficient use amount of flyash than normal. Other envi- green technology. The project team looked
of resources, but combining many types of ronmentally friendly elements include: carefully to find products that met specific
spaces under the same roof can also com- Energy Star™ appliances and lighting, low environmental goals, and frequently par-
plicate the process. It is very easy to fall VOC stains, finishes and paints, and reflec- ticipated in their development.
into the trap of designing green in one way
while working against the goal in another.
Retail spaces that are flooded with natural
light, for example, can introduce unwant-
ed heat gain. Selecting materials and
designing mechanical systems to compen-
sate for this, particularly with the individ-
ual levels of control needed in a residential
application, can be difficult. To preserve
the overall environmental vision, 735
Forest is seeking LEED certification under
LEED New Construction (LEED-NC), not
LEED Core and Shell (LEED-CS).
“Tenants moving into the building will
need to follow the same guidelines we
do,” said Marszalek. “We will show them HENRY
ENRY FORD
ORD ESTATE
STATE
why these guidelines are important.”
NEW CRANBROOK OBSERVATORY
A few words about energy costs will cer-

tainly play a role in this process. Prices
will continue their upward trend as
resources become increasingly scarce,
which makes 735 Forest a smart option for
restaurant owners, loft dwellers and office
renters who are hoping to manage these
costs. Energy efficiency goals played into
every design decision.
Lighting was carefully studied to deter- WAYNE
AYNE STATE
TATE BONSTELLE
ONSTELLE THEATER
mine what types of fluorescent fixtures
HEATER
and bulbs provided sufficient lighting eco-

nomically. Fixtures in residential spaces
also allow for a range of bulb types to suit
individual tastes, a simple flourish not
supported by every lighting manufacturer.
Since the building achieves 90 percent day
lighting throughout, motion sensors that
control lighting in common areas also fea-
ture a photometric capability that keeps
the lights off when ambient lighting is suf-
ficient.
CRANBROOK KINGSWOOD STATE CAPITOL
Instead of placing individual water
heaters in each residential unit, the boiler
in the basement is equipped with two
SPECIALIZING IN THE CONSULTING, DESIGN AND
insulated storage tanks to provide instant INSTALLATION OF ARCHITECTURAL SHEET METAL
hot water when needed. The 300,000 BTU
boiler runs at 98 percent efficiency and it WORK; COPPER ROOFING; SLATE AND CLAY TILE
can even be programmed to shut down
automatically when reduced demand is
detected. This approach resulted in a
potential savings of over three million
BTU and also adds valuable space to each
CASS SHEET METAL
residential unit. (313) 571- C.A.S.S.
Products and materials that went into
5641 CONNER • DETROIT, MI 48213

SI 2008 90-97 735 Forest 9/26/08 3:44 PM Page 96
frustration,” admitted Kelly. were able to heat the entire second and
The project team formed a number of “Outsulation is tough to work with. third floors – that’s 28,000 square feet –
NEXT GENERATION GREEN
partnerships with manufacturers to create Carpentry and masonry contractors need with one 300,000 BTU natural gas heater,”
or modify products specifically for use at to work with each other with a typical said Marszalek. “There are very few
735 Forest. One such alliance with outsulation system.” drafts in this building and that really
Michigan-based Dow Building Solutions® The THERMAX, Total Wall System, on helps with the overall energy efficiency.
led to the development of the THER- the other hand, combines the backing, It has a very high r-value by the time you
MAX™ Total Wall System, which saw its insulation and water management system put the brick and drywall on. We were
first worldwide application on the proj- all in a single spray-applied product. As able to eliminate 12 tons of cooling equip-
ect. The THERMAX Total Wall System a result, the building gets sealed much ment because of the wall construction.”
utilizes the existing THERMAX product more quickly, with fewer components The successful collaboration with Dow
as an outsulation system, placing the and less direct interaction between indi- inspired the project team to seek out
insulation on the outside face of the vidual trade contractors. Before the proj- similar opportunities with other manu-
building instead of between the studs. ect team could enjoy these benefits, they facturers.
“Metal studs allow thermal transfer, needed to work with Dow to develop a “Reaching out to Dow broadened our
which can contribute to dew point issue brick tie that could be easily inserted minds on every other aspect,” said Kelly.
and condensation to some extent,” through the system. “We worked with Kohler to introduce
explained Kelly. “There has been a drive “We spent a lot of time and energy some new water saving products in the
in construction to put the dew point out- working on the brick tie,” said Marszalek. building. Shaw Industries, the second
side the walls.” “We can slide it through the insulation largest flooring company in the country,
The move towards outsulation is based and fasten it while standing right on the came to us and told us about some sus-
on strong logic, but whenever time-tested concrete slab.” tainable products that were developing.”
techniques are modified, there are always Despite the ease of working the special- Once again, looking at a challenge from
a few issues that crop up. The project ly developed brick ties through the insu- multiple vantage points led to success.
team approached Dow primarily to lation, the foam still provides an effective The expertise of the project team, along
develop a system that was easy to work thermal barrier. with many quality manufacturers, pro-
with. “Once the system was up, everything vided a clear path into unexplored territo-
“The partnership was born out of our was taped and the windows were in, we ry at 735 Forest.
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SI 2008 98-105 AbuDhabi 10/2/08 2:27 PM Page 98
By David R. Miller, Associate Editor

Photos by Beth Singer
I
f people stopped to think about the complex system that generates and delivers electricity each and every time they flipped
a switch, they would spend many contemplative hours in the dark. Fortunately, when a strange noise triggers the semicon-
scious reflex of turning on the lights at three o’clock in the morning, a carefully deliberated energy grid that supplies reliable
power supports this action. TAQA, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, brings new global experience in design-
ing, maintaining and expanding these systems to North America following its acquisition of CMS Generation, a subsidiary of
Jackson-based CMS Energy.
Construction manager DeMattia Group, Plymouth, and architect Hobbs + Black Architects, Ann Arbor, facilitated a power shift
by supporting the relocation of about 40 highly-specialized employees in Jackson to transfer their skills to a new Ann Arbor loca-
tion. A 12,000-square-foot suite inside Ann Arbor’s Class A Domino’s Farms Office Park was transformed into a high caliber,
functional workspace with a color scheme that is subtly evocative of TAQA’s desert heritage.

IT’S ALL ABOUT LOCATION “International clients sometimes view pointed out that larger projects are more
Ann Arbor offered one key advantage the architect’s project responsibilities dif- complex and may require communication
over TAQA’s existing Jackson office. ferently than in the United States,” said with a larger group, a Board of Directors,
Closer proximity to Detroit Metro Airport, Thomas Phillips, LEED AP, vice president for example. Detailing the fit and finish of
coupled with the easy freeway access of with Hobbs + Black Architects. “Here, every room would provide too much
Domino’s Farms, was an obvious benefit clients tend to be more personally information, so architects often rely on
for a company that performs a significant involved in the design throughout the renderings to provide an accurate sense of
amount of international work. Many of process, especially here in Michigan. They the vision and character of the space.
the existing employees lived in towns rarely say, ‘Let’s establish a project vision Depending on the feedback from execu-
between Jackson and Ann Arbor, so the for the spaces and you e-mail us photo-real tives, the architect can make refinements to
new office would also be within commut- renderings for review when you think the design for final approval before pro-
ing range of the workforce. In addition to you’re close.’ More commonly, the design ceeding with specific material choices and
the tangible benefit of simplified trans- is organized into specific design phases the construction document phase.
portation, the new location contained a where not only rendered images are pre- With smaller projects, detailed informa-
host of other advantages that were more sented, but also detailed schedules of wall tion about the design is much more man-
difficult to quantify. colors, carpet and ceiling types.” ageable. Phillips estimates that approxi-
“There is a vibe in Ann Arbor, with the There are exceptions, of course. Phillips mately 95 percent of the office build-outs
University and the Ann Arbor Art
Festival,” said James Zimmer, plant sup-
port manager for TAQA. “TAQA supports
creativity, even with the design of this A private break room was placed behind this woven marble tile wall.
office and the selection of a site. We need
to be able to tap into creative juices as we
work, and Ann Arbor provides access to
them.”
Once a city was selected, attention was
focused on a specific site. After much care-
ful deliberation, Domino’s Farms rose to
the top of the list.
“From my perspective, I think that our
services set us apart,” said Van Belanger,
facilities superintendent at Domino’s
Farms. “Besides the amenities that we
offer, we provide a full-service, turnkey
operation from construction management
to the day-to-day operation. We have
security and maintenance personnel here,
and someone is here 24/7.”
Experienced tenants know that things
can go wrong at any facility. Quick
response time minimizes the impact of
these events and spells the difference
between mediocre and superior service.
“Having people who know the facility,
work there on a regular basis, and are
ready to respond when things go wrong
can be a big help,” said Belanger. “They
can shorten any ‘down time’ experienced
by the occupant of the space.”
Once a specific suite was selected, the
design team began working with the client
to create a vision for the space.
ENVISIONING THE PROJECT

An early step in any design process is
determining what the client’s desired
result is. In some cases, architects must
first develop an understanding of how the
client wants to interact with design profes-
sionals. When clients span the globe, cul-
tural diversity can manifest itself with dif-
fering expectations.

performed by Hobbs + Black involve com-

municating a high level of very specific
information on the finish of every space.
TAQA is not a standard office suite, nor
was the design process typical of what one
would expect in Michigan.
“The client viewed our experience as a
way of providing the details necessary to
develop their vision,” said James Sharba,
vice president and director of design for
Hobbs + Black. “We interpreted their
vision, created a floor plan that was
approved, and the next communication
was a rendering proposing our vision for
the central office space. We looked for-
ward to decisive decisions from TAQA and
this was no exception. A few days later,
we received a few comments and approval
to proceed to construction documents.”
Most architects would prefer having
time to do some research before meeting
with a prospective client, but there was no
time for that with TAQA. The initial call
and the tour of the suite occurred only
hours apart on a Friday afternoon. Invited
architects spent most of their time listening
at this meeting, as they would be required
to translate the client’s vision into a floor
plan that they would submit for approval
on Monday. Client concerns and informa-
tion about the operations of the company
were discussed at this meeting. The suite
is located in a rectangular building, allow-
ing for a linear layout with plenty of access
to outside windows. Transparency was a
key goal. Natural light pervades the office,
and every inch of the space offers a clear
view of bison grazing over a bucolic Materials used at TAQA are defined by hard surfaces and straight lines, with no carpet to hide
prairie. The client also stressed a desire for imperfections.
a simple space, but simplicity is often in
the eye of the beholder. High-end finishes
and hard surfaces define the TAQA interi- green tint of standard material was used to securely in place. Sliding glass doors were
or, without the softer touch of carpet or provide clear sight lines across the space. also used to maximize floor space. Placing
other textiles. In fact, most interior walls and doors are perfectly square panels adjacent to each
“One of the biggest challenges was fit- glass. Large glass panels were brought up other on a hard, flat floor created an envi-
ting so many materials together inside the to the office atop elevator cars. ronment in which the slightest misalign-
space,” said John DeMattia, vice president “We had to rotate the glass up, stand it ment would be visually detectable.
of the DeMattia Group. “All of the materi- on its edge, and bring it up so we would be “The bottom channel that the glass was
als had hard surfaces that were joined with able to pull it back out,” said Belanger. set into was critical,” said DeMattia. “We
straight edges. If something was out of “We were very fortunate that the second had to know exactly what the level of the
balance, it was very noticeable. We didn’t floor of the building is accessible from the floor would be, but the floors were made
have carpet to hide any imperfections.” east side, so we could drop the elevator car of cork, wood, leather and marble. We had
Planning how diverse materials would down to level one and enter the building to know the thickness of each material to
interact in the space, and how they would on level two.” level the floor.”
be installed, stood out as a key challenge. Glass was secured on top of the elevator Natural light brought in by the windows
car and two elevator company employees can reduce the need for artificial fixtures,
PLANNING OUT THE SPACE were tasked with operating the car and helping the project team meet key energy
The TAQA office is flooded with natural observing movement from inside the ele- efficiency goals. Instead of simply being
light and also offers striking views of vator shaft. Getting the glass up to the fitted with occupancy sensors that detect
Domino’s Farms’ unique setting through space was only the first challenge. The movement, the lights are tied to a series of
the extensive use of glass. A specialized glass panels were set with only enough sophisticated light level sensors placed
low iron glass variety that minimizes the framing to hold each individual unit near the windows. When the sun is
GLASS SERVICES
CONSTRUCTION
shining brightly, the lights dim to an
appropriate level, only to instantly bright-
RENOVATION
en when less sunlight is detected.
Glass that forms interior walls lets
everyone benefit from this natural light.
As the glass panels that made this possible
were installed, great care was needed to
prevent breakage. Many walls were pro-
tected with carpet padding and plywood
to prevent the big problems that could
result from small bumps. Small clips were
NEW
also installed anywhere there is a joint
between panels to prevent glass-to-glass
contact as the glass flexes in place. Not
every wall material at TAQA required this
level of care, as transparency was not
desired in every space.
Since the building already contained
restrooms, none were required by code
Vision Innovation Teamwork Quality
inside the TAQA suite, but high-end rest-
Harmon, Inc., ranked as the largest U.S. glazing contractor with offices in 13 cities brings
rooms with marble floors and attractive
over 55 years of building envelope experience to our customers.
artwork were added for the convenience
of employees. The executive office fea- Striking that delicate balance between aesthetics, cost and performance, Harmon provides
solutions and services for the exterior of your building.
tures glass walls just like every other 13623 Otterson Court
TAQA office, but shades can be lowered at Livonia, MI 48150 From new exterior building envelope solutions, to service and emergency repairs on existing
734-293-0020 buildings, to renovation of existing building exteriors overtaken by time, Harmon, Inc. is there
the push of a button to provide privacy. www.harmoninc.com
“for the life of the building.”
Since this office will be used by someone
who travels extensively, a private restroom
complete with a shower was strategically
placed behind a non-transparent wall.
Fitting a shower in added a whole host of
mechanical complexities not typically
encountered in an office suite. The hot
water typically isn’t hot enough for com-
fort, and people also tend to prefer a
warmer air temperature after bathing.
“In an office building, the temperature is
based on a common thermostat,” said
Phillips. “We added a supplemental
heater on a timer so someone could take a
shower without heating up the whole
office. There is also supplemental ventila-
tion because we needed to exhaust the
steam, or you’ll just blow humidity into Millwork & Carpentry
the central office.”
Privacy was a concern in more than just
the restrooms. The project team realized
Specialists
that employees might spend long hours
working at TAQA, so a more private break
area was placed behind a curved wall fit-
ted with an attractive woven marble tile.
The space, complete with marble chip
stone flooring, a bar sink, glass mosaic tiles
and artistic photography from
Birmingham’s “ZOOM” that was selected
by the artist to enhance the European 33500 Kelly Road
atmosphere and create a space more remi-
niscent of a restaurant than of a break Clinton Twp., MI 48035
room.
As visitors enter through the lobby, they
might be directed to a conference room, or (586) 791-1100 Fax (586) 791-1272
the office area with its glass walls. In the

office area, they may see a faint glow radi- team. Given the large size of the building, part of the scheduling issue. Glass, for
ating from a curved wall in a distance. expansion joints were needed to accom- example, was a long lead-time item
Constructed of translucent plastic panels modate for movement. One of these runs because of the low iron content that
attached to a metal grid, this wall sepa- through the TAQA space, but the office reduced its tint. Glass did not arrive ready
rates the strategy room form more public was configured to let it run through a file to install because hardware for the sliding
parts of the suite. The strategy room, storage area and out of sight of most visi- doors needed to be installed onsite. Once
along with other meeting rooms in the tors. If the expansion joint were in anoth- holes were drilled to accommodate the
facility, is equipped with whiteboards that er area, the office layout would have been hardware, the glass needed to be sent back
let users log in and see, or even interact shifted to keep it out of public view. out for tempering. Leather floor tiles also
with, images from remote locations using Unlike the expansion joint, the TAQA could not be installed immediately upon
a laptop. Images on the whiteboard can office contains many spaces that should be arrival.
even be saved for future reference. seen and admired. High-end finishes were “The leather needed to acclimate to the
Natural light fills the strategy room used to add class and sophistication to the humidity at the site,” said Brenda Cole,
through glass like other TAQA spaces, but suite. project manager for Decorative Flooring
the glass faces away from public areas to Services, Maumee, OH. “That process is
provide privacy when needed. GLASS WITH CLASS supposed to take two weeks, but one of
“The front of the office is the public “The biggest challenge on this job came our batches took a while longer.”
area,” said Zimmer. “If you are bringing in from the large variety of materials that Each piece of leather was checked with a
visitors, potential partners or potential were used,” said Paul Velin, senior project moisture meter to make sure it was suffi-
customers, you are more likely to keep manager for DeMattia Group. “We had 22 ciently acclimated to the space prior to
them up front. Towards the back, we different stone products in a space that installation. The material could not be cut
might be dealing with something that is a was only 12,000 square feet. A number of until it was acclimated and it needed to be
little more sensitive, but there really isn’t the stone products were imported from trimmed on all four sides to obtain a prop-
any reason for visitors to go back there.” Italy and Spain, so it took time to get them er fit. A template was made to the desired
Areas farther back in the office are even onsite, and we had to schedule around size to simplify this operation, but
less likely to host visitors, but they still that.” installers were still under put under con-
required careful planning from the project Getting materials to the site was only a siderable pressure when the acclimation
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The glass that forms interior walls lets

everyone benefit from natural light (left).
The executive office (above) also features
glass walls, but shades can be lowered at
the push of a button. A private shower and
restroom were strategically placed behind a
non-transparent wall.
process took longer than anticipated.

Hard tile installation also involved
unique challenges. With 18 different types
of tile and stone used on the floors alone,
some rooms included intricate patterns
comprised of up to four different materi-
als. John Trendell, general manager of
Decorative Flooring Services’ Ceramic Tile
Division, credits Dwyer Marble & Stone
Supply, Farmington Hills, with getting a
multitude of materials delivered in a time-
ly and organized fashion. He also needed
to depend on the ability of his craftspeople
to translate the circular and elliptical
patterns into a precise installation. The
Hard surfaces tend to deflect noise, making need for precision ran more than skin
acoustics a significant concern. Acoustics in this deep, as installers needed to install a level-
main conference room are partially controlled by an ing coat before placing any finish products
attractive bent maple tile wall. to ensure a perfectly flat surface. The cork
flooring also sat atop a plywood substrate,
and installers needed to know the thick-

ness of each layer to calculate the proper
finish height.
Textiles like carpet and some wall cover-
ings tend to absorb sounds, while the hard
floors and glass walls at TAQA tend to
deflect noise. Acoustics inside the space
was a significant concern, particularly
with areas where meetings would occur.
“There are three conference rooms,
along with some other meeting spaces,”
said Phillips. “They are all pretty sophisti-
cated in terms of teleconferencing and
phone conferencing, but the spaces them-
selves needed to be relatively quiet or the
electronics would pick up on the sounds of
people talking or echoes, especially with
all of the hard materials. We evaluated
each space in terms of how lively it would
be when meetings or other activities were
going on.”
The team worked with an acoustician to
place sound absorbing materials in appro-
priate locations. Acoustics in the main
conference room are partially controlled
by an eye-catching wall that features
Maple tiles that are bent to fit into a con-
cealed metal grid. Overhead mechanical
pipes and ductwork were left exposed
without the drop-in ceiling commonly
found in office environments, so acoustic
“clouds” here hung above work spaces.
The unique geometry of the ceiling,
along with the desire to leave mechanical
systems exposed, also complicated certain
aspects of the project.
“The roof slope is relatively low, from
slightly more than seven feet up, to the
standard nine-foot ceiling,” said Lori
Martens, senior interior designer for
Hobbs + Black. “The space was designed
to have a nine-foot lay-in ceiling, but we
were after a more modern look, so we
decided to expose the structure and only
selectively incorporate design elements,
such as the ‘wings’ above the glass cubi-
cles. The elements are not only aesthetic,
but serve to dampen sound and reflect
light from indirect linear features.”
Mechanical systems needed to operate
in peak condition because there was no
ceiling to contain bothersome noise.
Getting to this point required some
patience, with one faulty valve earning the Distributed by:
less than affectionate nickname “the ban- Frames, Doors & Hardware, Inc.
shee.” The diligent effort of the mainte- 33026 Capitol
nance staff that found and fixed this valve Livonia, Michigan 48150
(734) 422-5400 • FAX (734) 422-6335
was merely the last step of a long process
that ultimately left TAQA with a unique 118 Rosehill, Suite 1
space from which it can apply its global Jackson, Michigan 49202
expertise to the rapidly shifting (517) 787-5800 Fax (517) 787-3034
energy market.

SI 2008 106-113 Westview Elem 9/26/08 3:42 PM Page 106
Opened in September 2007, the new

Westview Elementary School in Warren
has boosted the neighborhood and
piqued young students with its design
using multiple colors, textures and
materials. Among its star attractions is a
geothermal field constructed on the
17.9-acre site to provide heating and
cooling for the school, and an Early
Childhood Center offering
after school latchkey services.
By Clare Desmond Photography by Steve Maylone

fun place to be, learn, explore and get creative!” That’s what the
I
t’s not just the geothermal heating and cooling field below
the grass outside or the sustainable design and construction Fitzgerald Public School District wanted and what the
that put the new Westview Elementary School in Warren a architect and contractors seem to have achieved with
cut above the norm. Nor is it that the new school also brings to spectacular success.
this older neighborhood a modern, technologically upscale It’s as though every decision about the design and construc-
school that will be a learning tool in itself, teaching kids about tion of the school was made with the intention of creating a place
environmental consciousness and sustainability along with their where kids would want to be. From the wide corridors to the
ABCs. multi-colored serpentine brick wall in one of two outdoor learn-
It’s also the exuberant use of colors, shapes, textures and mate- ing spaces to the colored window squares in the media center
rials in the design that fairly shout to kids, “This is going to be a and the windows placed low to the ground in that room so little
SI 2008 106-113 Westview Elem 10/2/08 11:46 AM Page 107
kids are able to see out of them – the new architect for being “very forward-think- 21st century.
Westview Elementary School presents ing. They made all the best choices and Constructed on a 17.9-acre site in the
itself as an inviting, fun and creative place updates to create a school of the future.” south end of Warren within the 3,500-stu-
to spend the day. Several different professional groups dent Fitzgerald Public Schools, Westview
The school uses the latest technology, have recognized the new school. It has Elementary had been experiencing a
natural lighting, adaptable spaces, simple been named to receive an “Impact on declining enrollment. The new school is
building organization, color, texture, indi- Learning” award from School Planning one step the district is taking to reverse
vidualized learning spaces and a dynam- and Management magazine and the that trend. Only one school year in, it
ic aesthetic to support a fun, inviting and Scottsdale, Arizona-based Council of appears to be having the desired effect.
welcoming learning environment for stu- Facility Planners International. It also is “Enrollment increased for the 2007-08
dents, teachers and community, accord- featured on the schooldesigner.com web- school year by 140 students,” former
ing to project architect Michael Malone, site. The National School Boards Fitzgerald Public Schools Superintendent
AIA, principal, Partners in Architecture Association showcased Westview Janette Brill said. She noted that people
PLC (PIA), Mount Clemens. Elementary in 2006 while it was still a have moved into the district; the school
“The kids love it,” enthused Fitzgerald project-in-development, and again at its offers individual instruction as needed,
Public Schools Board of Education Technology & Learning conference in and it has an all-day kindergarten and
President Thomas Owczarek. “They love 2007. early childhood education (ECE) center.
going there.” The school district got everything on its The ECE center remains open after the
Assistant Superintendent/Curriculum wish list and more in a bright, welcoming close of the regular school day to provide
and currently acting district superintend- building brimming with colors, different latchkey services.
ent Barbara vanSweden echoed those textures, and elements designed to appeal Set in a residential area of primarily
thoughts. “We wanted a school the com- to young students. The school dazzles one-story ranch style single-family
munity could be proud of,” she said. “It’s with, among other features: two outdoor homes, and a townhouse development of
a jewel in this part of Warren. Maybe it learning spaces, a media center, art and two-story homes, the new 98,500-square-
will inspire our kids to do bigger and bet- science rooms and a computer lab, much foot school blends in well with the sur-
ter things in their lives.” She also noted of it constructed with recyclable materi- rounding community while making a
that the new school “has given our kids als. That, plus an energy- and money-sav- strong visual statement that declares to
something to take care of.” ing underground geothermal heating and kids it's a great place to be. The existing
Providing a modern learning environ- cooling system are just a few of the mod- school had been situated at the south end
ment while incorporating sustainable ern amenities that help the new school of the site, allowing the new school to be
design principles and technologies were succeed in bringing its students into the constructed to the north while school
high on a wish list for the new school
developed by the school district and a
volunteer focus group assembled by the
Board of Education. The focus group A permanent student art display at the entrance to the school’s media center is a colorful
included teachers, staff, parents, and testament to the Fitzgerald Public School’s and the architect’s belief that school can be a
members of the community working in creative and fun place to be.
concert with the architect. “The design
team at PIA formed an educational part-
nership with this group,” Malone said.
Project manager for the firm was Adam
Lach, AIA, who was an “integral part of
making this project a success,” Malone
continued.
Construction manager on the project
was the Southfield office of Skanska USA
Building Inc., under the direction of
Andrea Atherton, project executive; Joel
Lemp, project manager; and Tony
Sarkins, Jr., project superintendent.
Construction began in May 2006 and was
completed in August 2007. The school can
accommodate 200 pre-kindergarten and
kindergarten students and 600 students in
grades 1 through 5.
Atherton met with the board of educa-
tion nearly three years ago, and said their
“concern was, No. 1, the kids. They want-
ed a terrific learning environment and
one that was flexible and had a lot of nat-
ural elements,” she noted. She
complimented the school district and

fifth grade students have the largest

resource area. It can accommodate more
students and activities at once and it
overlooks the media center below on the
first floor. Barbara vanSweden noted that
the pods allow “a whole grade to get
together” while also offering space for
small group or individual instruction.
The single-story ECE and kindergarten
classrooms are combined into a single
area, with their own secure entry, check-
in area and play space. Having its own
entry was a choice based on security and
convenience for working parents who
pick up their latchkey kids after normal
school hours. The two-story academic
wing houses grades 1 through 5, as well
as the media center, computer lab and the
art and science rooms.
MAKE IT FUN AND EXCITING

Architectural detail throughout the
school, inside and out, is intended to cre-
Walls of windows allow copious light ate “a fun and exciting environment,”
into the main lobby and a clear view to Malone noted. A large 22-foot diameter
the multi-colored, serpentine brick wall compass constructed of concrete terrazzo
remained in session. When construction that highlights one of two outdoor pavers is the focal point of the circular
was complete, the old school was demol- learning spaces. main entry plaza, which also features low
ished and new play areas were construct- plantings, flowering trees and bench seat-
ed in the former location. Asbestos abate- ing. Visitors enter into a two-story
ment at the old school prior to demolition entrance lobby, with the administrative
was accomplished during the summer offices immediately to the left.
while students were on vacation, Sarkins Design objectives, Malone explained,
Squares of colored glass windows
noted. included establishing safe site circulation
alongside a window wall with a view to
Despite the variety of construction an outdoor classroom highlight the by separating bus, parent and visitor
materials used on the job and the numer- school’s media center. The insulated
ous “extras,” like the geothermal field maple wood ceiling adds beauty and
and a multi-colored serpentine masonry warmth to the space while it helps
wall, the school project was completed on buffer sound.
time and under budget, Sarkins said. He
said the mason contractor alone had to
work with multiple colors, shapes and
sizes of masonry units, block and glass.
The new school replaced an aging, sin-
gle story 1950s-era building of approxi-
mately 56,000 square feet. It is simply
organized around a large, story-and-a-
half-high central entrance lobby and main
corridor spine, Malone said. The corri-
dors and other circulation spaces were
made wider and brighter to ease conges-
tion and to enhance comfort and security.
Classrooms in the building are organized
into individualized learning “pods,” each
having their own color identity and sepa-
rate central resource area, he added.
These individualized areas provide
flexibility, while also creating a sense of
place for each student. The resource areas
in the classroom pods have become the
most popular areas in the building due to
their flexibility, access and layout. The
traffic, not negatively impacting the sur- ty turned down, and I've been with the pump, that provides heating and cooling.
rounding residential properties, and cre- district for 30 years. “Ground-source heat pumps use the earth
ating outdoor educational opportunities. “It was a great experience,” she said of or groundwater as a heat source in winter
Other design features include angled the construction process. “And the school and a heat sink in summer,” according to
and recessed windows that add architec- opened when it was supposed to open.” the Geothermal Resources Council, an
tural interest while providing a shading educational association based in Davis,
source reducing direct sunlight. Keeping California.
the visual interest high, different materi- GEOTHERMAL HEATING & COOLING The system was constructed in a rough-
als were used throughout, Malone noted, Chief among the modern technologies ly pie-shaped, 56,000-square-foot grassy
including ribbed and smooth metal pan- at Westview is the closed loop geothermal area on the northwest corner of the site.
els, masonry, glass block, and painted and field, also known as a ground source heat By its nature as an environmentally
burnished block. The burnished block
used on the bottom half of the corridor
walls is attractive and fairly immune to
fingerprints, creating a lifecycle cost sav-
ings since it shouldn’t have to be cleaned
or painted.
One of the stars of the visual show
might be the serpentine brick wall con-
structed in one of two outdoor learning
spaces. Composed of eight different col-
ors of glazed masonry units interspersed
with translucent glass and glass block
windows, the 12-foot-high colorful wall is
a backdrop for an outdoor classroom for
hands-on life sciences learning. Serving
as a focal point for the school, this out-
door learning space is centrally located
near the main entrance lobby, completely
visible from the lobby through glass win-
dows and doors. The space offers a pond,
teaching platforms, built-in seating, a lec-
ture area, butterfly and hummingbird
gardens as well as an abundance of vege-
tation.
The other outdoor space, approximate-
ly 160 feet by 60 feet, is directly accessible
from both the media center room and the
art/science rooms on the south side of the
building. It incorporates a hardscape area
with tiered amphitheater seating sur-
rounded by landscaping that provides
opportunities for outdoor art and science
projects, as well as student activities and
performances.
Entry to the media center on the interi-
or is enhanced with a permanent student
art exhibit created with a base of the
multi-colored glazed brick supporting a
laminated glass installation that houses
student art. The art exhibit is flanked on
either side with giant crayons created
around structural steel. The high ceiling
in the media center room is an insulated
maple wood backed with acoustic materi-
al for sound absorption. The wood ceiling
adds as well an element of beauty and
warmth.
“Our goal is always what's best for the
students,” Brill observed, adding, “We
have a very supportive community. I do
not recall a bond issue that the communi-

PHOTO COURTESY OF: PARTNERS IN ARCHITECTURE, PLC, MT. CLEMENS

Completely visible from the school’s main lobby, this outdoor
Eight different colors of glazed masonry units were used learning space is designed and landscaped to attract
to construct the 12-foot-high serpentine wall in the butterflies and other wildlife to serve its use for the
outdoor classroom for hands-on life sciences learning. study of the life sciences.
sound, cost- and energy-saving heating and cooling system, the In each of the individual loops or wells, one pipe carries warm
system will also provide a learning experience for students. The or cool fluid from the earth to the school building and the other
building has been prepped for web-based interactive kiosk soft- pipe returns hot or cold fluid, depending on the season, back to
ware that will provide education and awareness about the the earth. The fluid is water-based with 23% propylene glycol
school’s actual energy use in real time. (antifreeze). Individual wells were placed on a 20-foot by 20-foot
A series of paired vertical pipes installed in the ground are grid, Richards said.
connected to each other by a grid at the top and then to the “The geothermal system works great at Westview,” Richards
building to create the geothermal, or geo-exchange field, that enthused, “handling 100% of the school's heating and cooling.”
“taps the stored energy of the greatest solar collector in exis- He attributed the success in part because it's completely new
tence: the Earth,” according to the International Ground Source construction. The geothermal field serves 64 distributed heat
Heat Pump Association, based at Oklahoma State University in pumps, including 57 units placed throughout the building, four
Stillwater, Oklahoma. more on the roof and three dual effect energy recover ventilators
At Westview, 140 bore holes with 5-1/2-inch diameters were (ERVs), also on the roof. Richards explained that the temperature
drilled to a depth of 355 feet into bedrock to contain the vertical in Michigan 5 feet to 6 feet below grade is approximately a con-
piping, explained John D. Richards, PE, LEED AP, and principal stant 50F degrees. It’s the constant temperature of the earth that
MEP consultant, MA Engineering, Bingham Farms. LoopMaster makes these systems work.
International, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, installed the geother- “The school district and their board were really the impetus
mal system, working from approximately November 2006 behind (installation of) the geothermal system,” Richards said,
through July 2007 in some very rainy Michigan weather. noting there are several engineers on the district’s Board of
“Those guys were in chest-high waders,” said Larry Ulfig, Education who had done research on their own.
general foreman for Macomb Mechanical, Sterling Heights, the One of those engineers is Board of Education President
HVAC contractor on the job. “I told my crew anytime you want Owczarek, who said the board researched geothermal ground
to complain just take a look at what the LoopMaster crew is source heat pumps before committing to the system in retrofits
going through.” at two existing Fitzgerald schools. He said the system has been
After the bore holes were drilled, a 710-foot unicoil of 1-1/4- so successful in the two retrofits and at Westview that the gas
inch DR9 polyethylene plastic piping, designed and rated for company the district contracts with sent some workers out to
geothermal applications, was spooled down, connected by a U- check the meters because they were registering such low gas
bend at the bottom, and then brought back up to create vertical usage.
supply and return piping for each well, or loop, explained Troy Owczarek acknowledged that the system at Westview cost
Coffman, project manager for LoopMaster. Then the bore holes approximately “25%-30% more than conventional systems up
were filled with a bentonite grout. front” to install, but says the school is “already on track to get
At the top, all 140 bore holes are connected to each other and that back.” Richards noted that geothermal systems require a
then to the building via DR11 polyethylene piping placed hori- larger initial investment with the payback in terms of energy-
zontally in 5-foot deep trenches. Individual loops are circuited and cost-savings usually coming in 8-10 years.
and converge into a main below-grade vault containing the man- Macomb Mechanical installed all the ductwork inside the
ifold circuit. The system then enters the school via 8-inch piping. building, the 64 heat pumps, and the piping to connect the build-
Approximately 103,000 linear feet of piping was installed for the ing to the geothermal field. “My piping tied in all 64 heat pumps
project, Richards noted. to that field in the grass,” Ulfig said. “LoopMaster brought the
Congratulations and Thank You
W
geothermal grid right up to the school
building. We like new technology, and
Fitzgerald Public Schools and All Contractors
Skanska was excellent to work with; it
was a great team effort.”
who made Westview Elementary a Success!
ABC Paving Co. Able Demolition Ameri-
THE VISION can Furniture Contractors ANM Construc-
tion Ann Arbor Commercial Construction
The Board of Education’s focus group Services Authority Group Concrete, Inc. Bos-
“provided welcomed and insightful ton Tile & Terrazzo Brazen & Greer Cadil-
thoughts that helped to identify what was lac Iron Cig Jan Products Ltd. Davis Iron
important to each of them as well as to the Works Delta Construction Associates Detroit
Automatic Sprinkler Detroit Door & Hardware
community,” Malone said. In addition to
Dew-El Corp. DRV Joint Sealants Enviro-Aire, Inc.
the latest in technology, that vision The Gilardone Co. Great Lakes Hotel Supply Hatzel
included providing: & Buehler International Building Prod-
A learning community that offers opportu- ucts J.L. Geisler Corp. Loopmaster In-
nities not previously possible. Examples ternaitonal, Inc. Macomb Mechanical
Madison Heights Glass McNulty Electric
include the outdoor classrooms, the cen- Michigan Playgrounds, LLC North Coast Studios
tral resource area, and updated technolo- Oakland Plumbing Co. Peter A. Basile Sons
gies, including the computer lab. Precision Landscaping Reliable Fence Roof-
A learning environment suitable to meet con Schlindler Elevator Corp. Schreiber Corp.
Seven Brothers Painting The Sheer Shop Shock
today’s needs while being adaptable to future
Brothers Floor Covering Skanska USA Build-
educational demands. One of those future ing, Inc. Sunset Excavating The Supersine
demands is a distance learning capability, Co. TEL Systems Total Door Urban’s Parti-
Brill said, and the facility is prepped for tion & Remodeling Wally Kosorski Won Door
PARTNERS in Architecture, PLC

that in the future. She explained that the
State of Michigan is encouraging Chinese
language classes at the elementary school
level, and electronic distance learning is a Architecture Planning Interior Architecture Sustainable Design
distinct possibility for that endeavor. 586.469.3600 www.partnersinarch.com
A learning environment where kids will
want to be. The building is alive with dif-
Since 1968
ferent colors, textures and interesting
architectural detail – all the things young
kids love to see, touch and feel. In the
new media center, for example, one entire
“SPECIALTY CLEANING”
wall is punctuated with multi-colored www.acmemaint.com
glass squares, reminiscent of the multi-
colored glazed brick wall in the outdoor
classroom and the permanent art exhibit
24236 Mound Road, Warren, Michigan 48091

in the corridor outside the media center.
Squares are a design element used
throughout the school, including the win-
dows in four stairwells and in the gymna- Commercial • Industrial • Institutional
sium. In the gym and cafeteria, squares of
insulated concrete block are used to dif-
Cleaning Services
fuse sound but which add to the design PROFESSIONAL DUCT CLEANING
aesthetic, as well.
Cleaning & Sanitizing • Complete HVAC Systems
Sustainable design principles and technologies.
Restroom/Laboratory/Paint • Exhaust Systems
The geothermal field is a prime example
of this, but others abound throughout the EXTERIOR BUILDING CLEANING
new school, including the use of recycla- Architectural Metal • Precast • Brick • Stone
ble materials chosen for construction, the
improved overall thermal envelope, and INTERIOR BUILDING CLEANING
the building's orientation to the site. Degreasing • Prep for Paint • Exhaust Fans • Floor Cleaning
In the new school, all windows are DEEP CLEANING
insulated, low-e and tinted. The building Machinery De-greasing • Kitchen Facilities
is constructed with masonry cavity walls Parking Deck Cleaning • Warehouses
that provide more thermal mass and are
Loading Docks • Compactors
insulated. There also are three inches of
insulation in the roof of the new school. 40 Years In Business
Water efficient fixtures were installed and
linoleum, a sustainable product that is
also washable, was used for flooring and
(586) 759-3000 Fax (586) 759-3277
halfway up the walls in the bathrooms.

Low-maintenance landscaping was
developed, with the hardscape just out-
side the main entrance and in the outdoor
classroom planted to attract butterflies
and other wildlife attractive to young stu-
dents. Metal panels used on the exterior
are all recyclable, and the asphalt roofing
was cold applied rather than hot to mini-
mize fumes while the students were in
school, even though it cost more to apply.
“The building could easily be LEED certi-
fied,” engineer Richards noted, “but the
school decided not to seek it.”
A major objective of the architect, Partners

In Architecture PLC, Mt. Clemens, was to
enhance student interest with a wide variety
of colors, shapes, materials and textures, as
demonstrated in this elevation.
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T. F. Beck Co. Detroit Cornice & Slate Co. Lutz Roofing Co., Inc. North Roofing Co. Schena Roofing &
Rochester Hills MI Ferndale MI Shelby Twp. MI Auburn Hills MI Sheet Metal Co., Inc.
248.852.9255 248.398.7690 586.739.1148 248.373.1500 Chesterfield MI
586.949.4777
J. D. Candler Fisher Roofing Co., Inc. M.W. Morss Roofing, Inc. Dave Pomaville & Sons, Inc.
Roofing Co., Inc. Dearborn Heights MI Romulus MI Warren MI Schreiber Corporation
Livonia MI 313.292.8090 734.942.0840 586.755.6030 Detroit MI
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LaDuke Roofing & Newton Crane Roofing, Inc. Royal Roofing Co.
Christen/Detroit Sheet Metal Pontiac MI Orion MI
Detroit MI Oak Park MI 248.332.3021 248.276.ROOF (7663)
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SI 2008 106-113 Westview Elem 10/2/08 11:46 AM Page 113
A facility with plenty of natural light-

ing. An abundance of natural lighting
was incorporated into most occupied
HELP GREEN YOUR BUILDING
spaces within the building, with both
operable and fixed windows used in
classrooms. Light-directing glass block
with internal baffles that direct light
upward were used in the classrooms and
gymnasium. In most cases direct/indirect
fluorescent light fixtures with multi-level
switching and occupancy sensors were
THICK
installed. Pendant lighting graces the
administrative office space. In the class-
rooms, the windows sport double shades:
one blocks light completely and the other
is a “5% shade” because they allow that
percentage of light into the room, Malone
said. Upper window lights are frosted to
diffuse light.
School Principal Denise Kluck was
especially happy about the natural light-
ing. “I can be having the worst day, and
OR THIN DETROIT TERRAZZO TERRAZZO can be thick or thin,
then I look around and can see the sky, heavy or light, textured or smooth,
the sun,” she enthused. “It's a fabulous
school,” Kluck said, complementing the
CONTRACTORS exotic or conservative, plain or col-
orful, interior or exterior. No matter
architects for their ability to incorporate ASSOCIATION what your flooring requirement is
new technologies along with great color ARTISAN TILE (810) 220-2370 TERRAZZO has the answer.
and design. BOSTON TILE (313) 535-7700
A sense of place in the community and
a focal point for revitalization for the
neighborhood and district. The new
school has provided a boost to self-esteem
for many of the children and their parents
too, according to Kluck. “They really
enjoy the new school,” Kluck said. She
noted that many of the school’s children
come from socio-economically disadvan-
taged families and the school creates an
entirely new atmosphere for them. She
said a second grade student said the new
school looked “like a college campus!”
Kluck highly commended both
Partners in Architecture and Skanska. She
said Sarkins was available to answer any
question she ever had and Atherton
emailed her routinely. She said PIA's proj-
ect manager, Lach, even gave a presenta-
tion to the second graders describing Commercial • Industrial
Since 1974
what the construction would entail and
how the new school would look.
“Moving is hard on kids,” Kluck
observed, “and they made it easy. The
construction was really an enjoyable
process,” she added. “I never felt alone.” 27270 Gloede • Warren, Michigan 48088
Ph (586) 774-3110
Fax (586) 774-7055

SI 2008 114-121 ITCTransmission 10/2/08 2:24 PM Page 114
someone else’s tax records. While the data that permeates our
F
ew would argue against calling the era in which we live the
Information Age, even if a few of us still have parents who existence can be transmitted over the airwaves, there is no wire-
still cannot successfully log onto the Internet. We are literal- less way to transmit the electricity that powers these devices.
ly bombarded by information every day as it is scattered by cellu- When ITCTransmission purchased the electric transmission sys-
lar phones and laptop computers all around us. When we tems from Detroit Edison and the Michigan Electric Transmission
breathe, we might inhale the anguished break-up of a teen Company (METC, which had purchased transmission systems
romance. Our next morsel of food may have just collided with from Consumers Energy), the company accepted the awesome
both of Farmington Hills, recently led the overestimated under the Fujita Scale amid
effort to build a Novi headquarters facility the catastrophic damage often left in a
from which ITCTransmission could per- twister’s wake. No matter how they are
form this vital task. measured, the two-story control room was
built to withstand the 250-mile-per-hour
KEEPING THE LINES OPEN winds characteristic of an F-4 or EF-5 tor-
The first task in any design project is to nado.
develop an understanding of the owner’s “Anyone looking at this building would
needs. One necessary component for say that it’s way over-designed when com-
ITCTransmission was a control room that pared to a typical office building,” said
could continue operations through the Timothy Melvin, AIA, LEED AP, senior
most extreme conditions without any project architect for Gillett Associates.
interruptions and could accommodate “The connections, the sizes of the structur-
future growth. al members and the redundancies in cer-
“Part of our building is a two-story contain areas are part of a whole web of sys-
trol room from which we monitor the tems that work together.”
transmission grid 24/7,” said Joe Bennett, The two-story control room is located
director of facilities for ITC Holdings. “It within a “hardened area” that is attached
is a critical operation, so we have a lot of to a six-story office tower, which was also
redundancies and failsafes to keep the con- designed to withstand extreme conditions,
trol room up and operational. Quite but not nearly to the extent of the control
frankly, if we are out of power, there is a room. According to Mike Kepsel, project
likelihood that the rest of Michigan is out manager for Utica Steel, Inc., Chesterfield,
of power too. Our people need to do their approximately 1,200 tons of structural
jobs in the worst of conditions.” steel was used to create the 188,000-
In a Midwestern climate few, if any, con- square-foot space, which is about 20 to 30
ditions can be considered worse than those percent more than would typically be
experienced in the path of an oncoming found on a similarly sized structure. The
tornado. Tornados produce maelstroms so durability of the structure cannot simply
violent that observers can only make edu- be measured by the bulk of materials, as
cated guesses as to their wind speeds. For the office tower was also designed with
years, scientists used the Fujita Scale exclu- the concept of progressive collapse in
sively as a measure of a tornado’s destruc- mind.
tive power, but they developed the “Typically, a building will be able to lose
Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) after a column without collapse,” explained
research suggested that wind speeds are Melvin. “We incorporated extreme
The ITCTransmission headquarters sits on an 84-acre site, but much of this land was unusable
due to natural wetlands and water features.
PHOTO BY AERIAL ASSOCIATES PHOTOGRAPHY
responsibility of reliably delivering the

electricity that keeps Information Age
devices, along with all the time-tested
necessities that previous generations have
come to depend on, running.
Construction manager Cunningham-
Limp, and architect Gillett Associates, Inc.,

redundancy into the structural system. As

long as you don’t take out multiple
columns in one area, the building will
stand. The floors will sag, but the design
will save the people inside and allow them
time to evacuate.”
In a typical office tower, when one col-
umn is removed, the resulting damage to
the structure can have a domino effect,
causing a disproportionately large portion
of the structure to collapse. The condition
is called “progressive collapse.” It keeping
with the high level of safety and security
for this project, the structural design crite-
ria included addressing the potential for
progressive collapse. This aspect of the
design criteria required increasing the size
of many framing members and various
beam to beam connections.
The ITCTransmission building is set back
from 12 Mile Road and is only accessible
via a meandering path that includes a
security checkpoint. In the unlikely event
Mechanical and electrical equipment is situated in a hardened courtyard that is surrounded by that an unauthorized vehicle is able to
12 inches of reinforced concrete and topped off with a galvanized steel grid of bar grating reach the building, subtle barriers
and steel beams.
designed to look like landscaping details
will prevent it from getting close enough
to cause a collapse by damaging the struc-
tural system.
Roofing Tech 9/19/02 10:01 AM Page 1
Over and above our heads,

A combination of materials was used to a roof is all that separates us from the elements.
buttress the office tower, including mas-
Often, little thought is paid to a roof…
sive precast panels. Of course, anything
that can be installed can also be removed, until it fails.
and a 250-mile-per-hour wind could per-
form that task pretty efficiently. The two-
story control room lies in a potential drop
• Consulting and Technical
path for these precast panels, so the roof, Assistance to the
consisting of eight-inch thick solid rein- Construction Industry
forced precast concrete panels over a grid
of structural steel beam topped with a To make sure your roof is installed • Roof Management Planning
Laurenco membrane waterproofing sys- or repaired correctly, you need a
roof consultant who offers the
• Roof Evaluation
tem and insulation and then a topping of
four-inch thick concrete covered by a stan- knowledge, experience, service, • Roof Design and Consultation
dard built-up roof system, is engineered to and integrity to go over and above
withstand a direct impact. your expectations. • Quality Assurance for New
Mechanical and electrical equipment Construction and Reroofing
supplying the building is likewise protect- You can depend upon
ed against harsh conditions. Instead of Roofing Technology Associates. • Litigation Assistance on
being placed on top or beside the build- Roofing Matters
ings, this equipment is situated in a hard-
ened courtyard that is surrounded by 12
inches of reinforced precast concrete pan-
els and topped off with a galvanized steel
grid of bar grating and steel beams, that is ROOFING TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
also able to withstand the impact of a 38031 Schoolcraft • Livonia, Michigan 48150-1065
falling precast panel, or almost any other (734) 591-4444 • FAX (734) 591-1660 • E-mail: rta@rtaltd.com
conceivable event. Incoming power is Web site: www.rtaltd.com
supplied directly from an onsite substa-

tion, with back-up power provided by
three, 1,500-kw generators. Under the
facility’s current electrical load, two gener-
ators are more than able to power the
building in an emergency, and a UPS sys-
tem consisting of hundreds of batteries
would also provide power to the most crit-
ical loads until the generators come online.
Mechanical systems are similarly redun-
dant, with three, 350-ton chillers set in the
EARTHMOVING, LLC
hardened courtyard.
Before the staff at ITCTransmission could
begin working in their secure environ-
ment, the project team needed transform
the site in order to make it suitable for con-
struction. MASS GRADING • SITE UTILITIES
JOBSITE ISSUES Earth Moving Site Development
The ITCTransmission headquarters sits
on an 84-acre site, but much of this land Subdivisions • Apartments • Condominiums Manufactured Home Communities
was unusable due to natural wetlands and Commercial Sites • Schools
water features. Fitting the required square Hospitals Public or Private Streets
footage along with a three-story, 398 space Sand and Gravel Pits
parking deck onto the site while adhering Parks and Recreation Areas
to mandates from the MDEQ, the City of Soil Erosion Controls • Seeding
Novi and the State of Michigan, was no
easy task. In spite of this difficultly, the WE ARE A MULTI-STATE CONTRACTOR
project team was able to find additional
room for a secure outdoor dining area, a
landscaped plaza with a water feature, a 5840 Sterling Drive, Suite 420 • Howell, MI 48843
helipad, and a tremendous amount of
support and security infrastructure. Space ph: 517-552-4433 ● fx:517-552-4455
was also earmarked for the second phase

SI 2008 114-121 ITCTransmission 10/2/08 11:37 AM Page 118
up-front construction cost and long-term maintenance burden a

bridge would have added. The location of the existing under-
ground utilities would have also complicated excavation efforts,
making surcharging the best budget option and a valuable
timesaver on a project with a very tight schedule.
“The schedule was the biggest challenge,” said Druskinis. “We
had 10-1/2 months to build this project, but the redundant sys-
tems, beefed up steel and design criteria made this job much more
difficult to build within the timeframe. ITC needed to move in
because their lease at their other facility was going to expire, so we
had to find a way to do it.”
Cunningham-Limp employed a number of strategies to keep
the project on schedule. Most subcontractors worked weekends,
with six, 10-hour days being the norm. Sunday may be a day of
rest for most people, but foremen often utilized the single day of
the week when there was not too much going on at the site to get
set up for the week ahead. Major contractors were also brought
onboard early, so they could assist with design decisions and
expedite material orders. Materials were initially staged along a
construction entrance off Haggerty Road and on the future site for
the second office tower, but speedy completion of the parking
deck allowed for convenient storage closer to the site. After the
structural steel and precast were installed, attention was shifted
towards finishing most of the upper floors of the office tower,
thereby letting the unfinished first floor serve as a material stag-
ing area. An extraordinary effort by every subcontractor was
needed to complete the project on time, as many unique features
added to the complexity of the building.
A keycard or personal escort is needed to

pass through this revolving door, which is the
office tower’s only entry point. The hardened area can
Skilled professionals monitor an active graphic
only be accessed from the office tower, but security at this
of the power grid that is projected onto a 15’
checkpoint is much more formidable.
high x 110’ long screen in the control room
seen here. The display effectively puts control
of the entire regional power grid into the
hands of a few select operators.
of the project, which will include the construction of a second
parking deck and another six-story office tower on the site of the
existing helipad, which will be relocated to the top of the new
tower.
“If we had more space, we probably would have made the
building lower,” said Melvin. “Initially, the land at 12 Mile Road
wasn’t available, so we had the building facing the other way with
the entrance off of Haggerty Road. Then, ITC acquired the land to
the north and we flipped the design. That solved a lot of problems
for us, even though 80 percent of the land that we got wasn’t use-
able.”
Solutions sometimes come with new sets of problems, and flip-
ping the building to provide access off of 12 Mile Road was no
exception. Extensive amounts of unsuitable soils on the path to
the building site left the project team with a difficult choice.
“We had a crossing where we could either build a bridge or
excavate out some peat material that was basically like soup,”
said John Druskinis, project manager for Cunningham-Limp.
“We dug up piles of sand to surcharge the peat so we could build
a road instead.”
Placing heavy loads of sand on top of the peat pushed the soft-
er material out of the way in a process much like squeezing a tube
of toothpaste, exposing hard clay soil with better bearing capaci-
ty. By using this approach, the project team was able to avoid the
expense associated with large-scale excavation, as well as the
the floor above, so a person can’t simply climb over the wall,” said
Melvin.
The portal does not meet code stipulated egress requirements,
so an additional secure door that will only open from one side
unless security authorization is obtained to open from the other
side. This provides a fast exit from the hardened area to the office
tower in the event of an emergency. Although the portal is large
enough to accommodate a standard wheelchair, persons with dis-
abilities might have some difficulty, while those who have claus-
trophobic tendencies might also find the mechanism unpleasant.
Arrangements can be made to gain access to the hardened area
through the egress doors in these cases, and all egress doors, along
with other sensitive areas of the facility, are monitored from the
security office. In addition to responding to special needs of hard-
ened area visitors, the security office is also the site of a unique
control switch that provides additional protection against
inclement weather.
“There is a button in the security office,” said John Richards, PE,
LEED AP, principal for MA Engineering, Bingham Farms. “When
this button is pressed, extra heavy duty tornado dampers close all
of the intake and exhaust louvers on the outside of the hardened
area. The building becomes isolated and all air handlers go into
100 percent recirculation mode.”
The specialty dampers, manufactured by Ruskin of Kansas City,
MO, feature .08-inch-thick extruded aluminum blades set into a
12-gauge steel channel with 3/4” diameter plated steel axles, pro-
viding protection during severe weather. Occupant safety was a
top concern in designing the building, and jobsite safety was
equally important during its construction. In fact, Cunningham-
Limp completed the project without a single loss time incident,
even though more than 200 workers were employed onsite at one
time. This result was made possible by stringent jobsite policies,
some of which even exceeded MIOSHA standards, including 100
percent usage of hard hats and safety glasses. A number of
The full-service cafeteria seen here provides
experts were also employed to bolster safety efforts.
access to a secure landscaped patio.
“It was a combination of our own safety personnel and ITC per-
sonnel,” said Druskinis. “ITC even had MIOSHA do a walk-
through.”
SURGE PROTECTION Safety efforts were undoubtedly enhanced by the combined
Given the vital nature of the work performed there, security expertise brought to the site, and the facility was likewise
was an important project consideration at ITCTransmission. The improved by numerous innovative ideas brought to the table by
site and building were designed to use a multilayer approach to the design team.
security. The building is accessible through a single entry point
leading into a lobby area. Guests are greeted in this area, but they KEEPING CURRENT
need a keycard or personal escort to successfully pass through the Much of the technology that makes the ITCTransmission head-
revolving door leading into the office tower. This door not only quarters unique is immediately visible, although most visitors
limits access to a single individual at a time, but also keeps a count will never make it into these sensitive areas. All visitors, on the
of how many people are in the building and can even log which other hand, will experience a comfortable environment, often
keycards were used to gain entry, thereby keeping a record of who without realizing that they are walking right on top of the system
is in the building at any given time. that makes it possible.
The hardened area is likewise accessed through a secure entry “We used an underfloor air distribution system, with all of the
point from the office tower, but physical security at this check- air delivered in a plenum under the floor, and then rising up into
point is much more formidable. After swiping their keycard, the individual spaces,” explained Richards. “We also utilize some
users enter a security portal. A motion sensor will then confirm new technologies for the perimeter system that allowed us to save
that only one occupant is in the portal and would allow the inner energy by eliminating some fans that existed on previous sys-
door to open upon activation via the key card. If someone were tems.”
trying the “piggy back” along with an approved user, the sensor The perimeter system relies on a linear diffuser with a variable
would deny access. The portal can also be set to require a diffuser plate that controls the flow of air through a baffle rather
thumbprint scan on a biometric reader before the inner door than utilizing a fan for this purpose. Unlike ceiling systems,
opens, eliminating the possibility of an intruder gaining access which use fans to mix the entire volume of air in the room, under-
with a stolen keycard. floor systems are designed to let air move naturally. Simple
“We even took the structure down to the underfloor and up to physics will draw air supplied at floor level towards hot spots in
Quality is Premium
AWARD-WINNING
PROJECTS:
the room, be they people or equipment, •ITC 2008
where they will ride naturally occurring and it is always the result
•TRW Tech Bldg. IV
thermal currents towards the ceiling, of high intention, sincere effort,
resulting in higher temperatures at ceiling •FEV Engine Tech.
level with increased comfort below for the intelligent direction, and skillful •Palazzo Di Bocce
occupants of the space. •City of Flat Rock
The underfloor system also allows for a execution. It represents the wise
Recreation Center
great degree of flexibility, which was
strongly desired for the ITCTransmission
choice of many alternatives. •MDEQ - LEEDS
facility. A number of individual diffusers •Continental Teves
are set into the 2-foot x 2-foot concrete Medical Facilities & Clinical Oxygen Systems •Quest Diagnostics
filled steel panels that form the floor above Municipal, Industrial & Commercial •Osmic Incorporated
the pressurized plenum. Each diffuser has Process Piping • PH Control
its own damper, allowing it to be individ- Manufacturing: Office & Assembly, SERVICES:
ually set for the comfort of the occupant of Research, Warehouse Design & Build Contractor
the space. The panels that contain dif- Commercial Service & Repair
Restaurant & Recreation
fusers can be moved to easily accommo- Back Flow Testing
Authorized Kaeser Air Compressors Distributor
date interior layout changes.
Heavyweight materials were selected for
Special Projects Fabrication
the panels which, when combined with
self-adhesive carpet tiles, provide excellent
acoustic properties. A sound masking sys- Brentwood Plumbing & Mechanical
tem was designed to provide white noise
ACHIEVEMENT
to prevent background chatter from 34875 23 Mile Rd. • Chesterfield, MI 48047 AWARDS
2006
2006&& 2007
becoming bothersome. (586) 725-1800 Phone (586) 725-4100 Fax
The control room inside the hardened Email: brentwoodplumbing@sbcglobal.net
area was similarly built with flexibility in
mind. An active graphic representation of
the power grid is projected onto a 15’ high
x 110’ long screen that is constantly moni-
tored by skilled professionals. The sheer
bulk of data can be intimidating, but the
display effectively puts control of the
entire regional power grid into the hands
of a few select operators. They can make
adjustments to keep the grid functioning
Providence Steel
and immediately see the real results of & Supply Inc.
their actions. Massive 50-foot-span girders
carry the structural load, facilitating the “Building into the 21st Century”
clear span that is necessary for this work-
space, even allowing for a planned expan- www.providencesteel.com
sion that will allow for the monitoring of a Fabrication • Residential • Commercial • Building Supplies • Structural Steel-Rerod
separate power grid in a different locale.
A well-placed conference room directly Structural Steel
above the projection room provides a
bird’s-eye view of control room activities, • I-Beams • Columns • Angle • Flats • Pipe • Channel • Fabrication
but a series of shutters can be closed when • Shop Drawings • Square Tube • Welding • Erection • Joist & Deck
the grid requires undistracted attention. Cement
Final touches not to be overlooked are
the 489-seat auditorium with state-of-the- • Bollards • Lintels • Styrofoam • Grouts • Visqueen • Styrofoam • Hand Tools
art audio video systems, which meets • Tire Wire • Expansion Joint • Redi-Mix Product • Floor Coat & Sealers
every current and anticipated need, and a • Anchor Bolts & Straps • Patching Materials • Wire Mesh #6-#10 • Re-Bar #3-#11
full-service cafeteria. The project team
delivered a unique facility to meet the Miscellaneous
challenges of today, with built-in flexibility
• Mortar • Hand Tools • Lintels • Duplex Nails • T-Iron • Cut, Masonry Nails
to carry ITCTransmission well into the
future. As tomorrow’s historians reflect on • Culverts & Fittings • Fasteners • Plastic Pipe • Sump Well • Area Walls • Rosin Paper
our times, the story of the Information Age
will surely include a chapter on the reli- 1200 Victory Dr. • Howell, MI 48843
able energy grid that power its many Ph (517) 545-4600 or (810) 229-3310 • Fax (517) 545-4933
devices.
www.providencesteel.com

SI 2008 122-135 DIA 10/2/08 12:32 PM Page 122
The Builders’ Art

On Exhibit at the New DIA
By Mary E. Kremposky,
T
wo very different masters at work - an art conservator with a paintbrush and a con-
tractor with a power drill - both have the same mission at the Detroit Institute of
Associate Editor Arts: preserving the 60,000 works of art housed in this national cultural gem. Torn
masterpieces are repaired and grime removed with an art conservator’s array of delicate
instruments. With a less delicate set of tools, a joint venture of Walbridge Aldinger
Photos by Justin Company/Jenkins Construction, Inc., both of Detroit, practiced art conservation with a
Maconochie, capital C, wielding Manitowoc cranes and installing an uncommon vapor barrier to pre-
Courtesy of SmithGroup serve a masterpiece of a building and to establish proper climate control for one of the
largest and most varied art collections in the United States.
The DIA’s remarkable metamorphosis is a product of over 20 years of building audits,
SI 2008 122-135 DIA 10/2/08 12:32 PM Page 123
The soaring promenade offers a clear path through the heart of the museum on two levels.
master planning, and construction. For nearly two decades, Reserve building in Washington, D.C. “It is always a joy to see a
SmithGroup Incorporated, Detroit, as architect of record, and Cret building, but the idea of working on one was extraordinary,”
Princeton, New Jersey-based Michael Graves & Associates, Inc. as said Michael Graves, FAIA.
master planner and design architect poured their talents into res- Added Thomas Rowe, AIA, Michael Graves & Associates, prin-
urrecting and revitalizing this cathedral of art in the heart of cipal-in-charge, “It truly is a beautiful collection, and the original
Detroit. Cret building is one of the best museums in the country.”
Offsetting this Beaux-Arts jewel are two modern wings: the south
A CATHEDRAL OF ART wing built in 1966 and the north wing built in 1971.
Built in 1927, the original museum is one of the finest examples In the late 1980s, the DIA embarked on a master plan to bring
of the Beaux-Art style of buildings designed by Paul Philippe the museum into the 21st century with improved circulation path-
Cret, a French-trained, neo-classical architect from Philadelphia, ways and new venues, ranging from expanded food service to
who became a leading master of the style and whose prominent spaces for corporate meetings and educational programs. But
buildings include the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Federal shortly after formulation of a master plan, a building audit in the

SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:20 PM Page 124
late 1980s exposed deficiencies in the structure, predominately In the ‘90s, forensic investigations were conducted throughout
concentrated in the walls of the modern wings, said Sven O. the 600,000-square-foot museum, including temperature and dew
Gierlinger, DIA vice president, museum operations. The project point analysis of window frame systems, exterior wall water
was detoured, forcing the team to temporarily shelf the master vapor flow analysis, and an examination of the chiller piping and
plan and address the building’s pressing functional issues. control system, according to information supplied by the
SmithGroup. Actual construction in the ‘90s included the north
THE THINKER(S) and south loft air-handling unit replacements, exterior wall glass
The hunched form of The Thinker, the famous sculpture in front replacement, and rebuilding of the historic clay tile roof.
of the DIA, is an apt symbol of the thought and planning needed Six years of master planning consumed much of the ‘90s until
for every facet of this endeavor. The root cause of the museum’s approval of the final master plan was obtained in 1998 with a
modern plague of moisture migration from the interior was budget of $158.2 million dollars. Official groundbreaking was in
upgraded standards mandating higher relative humidity and 2001, and the clock began to tick for a projected opening in
temperature levels for art display and storage. The windows and November 2006. “The project was intentionally phased in order
walls of the 1927 building and the modern wings could not with- to keep as much of the building open to the public as possible, and
stand the higher humidity levels introduced to better preserve the to accommodate the pace of fundraising,” said Rowe.
artwork within. In the modern wings, condensation in the wall Keeping the museum open naturally lengthened the construc-
cavity, particularly in winter temperature conditions, was the end tion schedule. Construction demanded ceaseless attention to
result. “Essentially, one was preserving the artwork but destroy- logistics with Walbridge/Jenkins tasked with working in the mid-
ing the building,” said Carl Roehling, FAIA, SmithGroup presi- dle of an operating museum, managing the influx of visitors,
dent and CEO. “It was probably an appropriate wall construction accommodating special events, coordinating security for priceless
in the ‘60s, but the added levels of humidity were introduced art treasures, and ensuring proper temperature and humidity con-
without the structure being able to accommodate it. trol for art on display and in storage, summarized Donald
“The moisture inside the wall cavity corroded the ties that held Greenwell, Jr., PE, senior vice president, Walbridge general man-
the stone in place,” Roehling continued. “Because the ties had lost ager, Commercial Group.
their structural integrity, the stones were at risk of falling. This is This extensive “to-do list” included tailoring the scope of work
what drove a great deal of the restoration.” to a fluid budget based on public and corporate donations. “We
kept an eye on our fiscal stewardship throughout the project,”
Once clad in dark brown granite, the DIA’s two wings are now draped said Greenwell. “It required constant, non-stop vigilance from all
in an elegant cloak of Vermont Montclair Danby marble. parties to keep the lid on the cost. We had weekly meetings,
authorization signing sessions, and value engineering at pre-
scribed points to work through the process and find the best way
to accomplish the mission.”
PROTECTING PICASSO
Phasing of the job was a pivotal part of finding the best way to
accomplish the mission. Added Greenwell, “The whole phasing
plan was vetted out numerous times to obtain the most economi-
cal solution that was in concert with the owner’s operations.”
“The first chosen order of business was construction of a three-
story south wing addition for temporary art storage during con-
struction and for use as a learning center, studios, and special
exhibition space after project completion,” said Carolina Lopez,
AIA, LEED AP, SmithGroup project manager. “This saved the
DIA the expense of retrofitting a warehouse for temporary art
storage for the duration of construction,” said Gierlinger.
In another sound decision, the addition was clad only in an
exterior insulation finish system. Cloaking the 32,000-square-foot
addition in its marble cladding was deferred until the other wings
were ready for their own marble skin.
The museum staff then packed up the works of Rembrandt,
Rubens, Picasso, and company to make way for installation of a
new HVAC system in the Cret building. “The state-of-the-art sys-
tem provides a highly filtered, highly controlled environment for
the artwork,” said Rowe. “It is basically a high-performance air
handling system with multiple sensors for temperature and
humidity control.”
Maintaining proper temperature and relative humidity in an art
museum is an art, itself. “Preserving artwork demands a very
tight range of humidity, essentially staying within 40 percent to 50
percent relative humidity to achieve an archival, museum-quality
space,” said Roehling.
The system keeps humidity at a constant level of 45 percent
SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:20 PM Page 125
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SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:20 PM Page 126
with only minor deviations, and automati-

cally corrects any humidity or temperature
aberrations within an area. “The humidity
rises if a gallery or an area becomes filled
Ductwork and Exhaust System Cleaning with a hundred people,” said Gierlinger.
“The system will then automatically dehu-
Since 1975 midify the space.” Added Roehling, “With
humidity controlled room by room, this is
probably the most complicated system
Commercial & Industrial you could have in a building of any kind.”
NADCA Certified • State Licensed The control room for this sensitive,
sophisticated system monitors conditions
Cleaning & Sanitizing of Ductwork • Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning Units throughout the museum. “The system is
monitoring these parameters constantly,
Kitchen Exhaust Degreasing and we are able to read on screen what the
humidity level is and what the system is
doing in every area,” said Dennis A. Spors,
Free Estimates! DIA program director and president,
Spors Company, Inc., Detroit. “The num-
5750 Enterprise Court, Warren, MI 48092-3462 ber of sensors in a room varies depending
on the size of the room, the ceiling heights,
(586) 558-9200 and other factors.”
100 Stevens Street, N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49507
YOU GOTTA HAVE FOOD
(616) 827-0910
The HVAC system is as intricate as the
tangle of industrial machinery in Diego
www.sanivac.com Rivera’s masterwork titled Detroit
Industry. At least Diego Rivera painted his
frescoes on the walls. The
Walbridge/Jenkins team had to thread
ductwork and elaborate systems through
the walls of this 80-year-old building. As
Negotiators, one example, all the large exhaust duct-
work and feeds had to snake unseen from
the main air handler through all the levels
Advocates, of the Cret building to reach the new Café
DIA and kitchen in the lower level.
Expansion of food service capacity is vital,
STRENGTH Counselors, for artists may starve for their art, but art
integrity
lovers prefer to be well fed. More impor-
tantly, museums need the extra revenue in
their coffers to host special events and
fundraising galas in an era of declining
public funding.
Walbridge/Jenkins had to weave the
trust
new exhaust ductwork through the
Providing excellence
labyrinth of varied and architecturally rich
in the law — comprehensive spaces composing this unique building.
construction, business, “One gallery has an 1870 Neo-Gothic
transactional & litigation Chapel actually transferred from France,
services to the business the early Christian galleries have numer-
community over 50 years. ous arches, and nearly every gallery in the
Cret building has a different ceiling style,”
said Gierlinger. “There is no easy channel
through the building.”
As expected, actual field conditions dif-
fered from the original Cret drawings, but
in this project every available inch was
Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, P.C. vital. “Our tolerances were very tight,”
1000
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Maccabees Center•25800 Northwestern Hwy.
Hwy. Post
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Office Box
Box 222•Southfield,
222•Southfield, Michigan
Michigan 48037-0222
48037-0222 said Roehling. “We’re trying to insert
248.746.0700•Fax
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248.746.2760 enormous ductwork through what we
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SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:20 PM Page 127
think is a 2-by-3-foot opening, but in actu-

ality it’s off by two inches, which becomes
an issue in a project with such tight toler-
ances.”
The main HVAC upgrade took place
between 2001 and 2003, but the project
team had to protect both stored and
installed artwork throughout the duration
of the seven-year project. “At times, we
had heavy construction in one part of the
building, while commissioning of the
HVAC systems was in progress in the fin-
ished galleries,” said Gierlinger. “For
instance, in November 2006 we were
simultaneously installing art in the south
wing, while we still had an open building
envelope in the north wing. It was a 12-
month process just to install the art.”
RESTORING FORM AND FUNCTION

Phase II began the visual metamorpho-
sis of the new DIA. Like the proverbial
butterfly emerging from its cocoon, the
dark brown granite was peeled from the
two wings and an elegant cloak of
Vermont Montclair Danby marble was The renovated Farnsworth entrance is a glory of marble and wood. Daiek Woodwork, Sterling
draped over the rebuilt wall. But the Heights, supplied the Curly Maple sketch face work for the reception and information desk, as
well as many of the sketch face veneer flush doors.
E D G E W O O D E L E C T R I C, I N C.
DESIGN / BUILD ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR
(248) 542-4500
1225 Spartan St., Madison Heights, MI 48071
Fax: (248) 542-3474 • info@edgewoodelectric.com
SETTING THE STANDARDS IN

Electrical Design/Build
SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:20 PM Page 128
beauty of the wall is more than skin deep. even fewer have this type of system
Walbridge/Jenkins and the project team installed as part of a building retrofit,” said
first had to correct the core problem: mois- Roehling. “We’ve worked on one in
ture migration into the wall cavity from another museum located in West Virginia,
the interior. The solution has turned the but the DIA is the largest application by far
modern wings into an impregnable of this quality of vapor barrier.”
fortress against moisture migration. Booms Stone Co., Redford, removed the
A DIA visitor admiring the masterpieces dark granite cladding and the vapor barri-
on the wall probably has no idea of the er and insulation was applied to the exteri-
masterful work composing the actual wall. or of the masonry back-up wall.
Beyond the work of Monet and Van Gogh “Applying the vapor barrier and insula-
and through the drywall is an uncommon, tion on the outside creates a swimming
three-layered system beginning “with a pool-like seal or envelope,” said Spors.
spray-on, liquid-applied vapor retarder, The canvas of white marble is stretched
three inches of spray-on polyurethane across a unique frame of structural mem-
foam insulation, and spray-on fireproof- bers that actually carries the weight of the
ing,” said Lopez. stone and the wind loads, said Richard
Proud Construction Clean up
This state-of-the-art vapor barrier for Booms, owner of Booms Stone Co. Booms
Crew of the DIA - 2007 better humidity and temperature control is Stone anchored approximately 140 tons of
“Because final cleaning rarely used on any wall. “There are very galvanized support steel to a larger steel
is an art.” few buildings in this country that have grid installed by the former Vulcan Iron
that kind of humidity requirement, and Works. “The marble then hangs directly
Denise & Adam Dabbagh,
Owner/Operators
Natural light pours into this expansive volume of space housing one of the museum’s
www.americancarpetcare.us
two staircase additions.
Livonia, MI
734-425-7542
C curtis
glass
company
commercial
glazing
contractor
Aluminum Storefronts
Entrances, Windows, Panels
Curtain Walls & Skylights
1900 East Maple

Troy, MI 48083-4213
(248) 744-4480
(248) 744-4485 fax
SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:20 PM Page 129
on rows of continuous horizontal extruded we wanted to find a way to give a “Simply by lining up the stone in a partic-
aluminum rails rather than a clip system,” reference to the Cret building. What we’ve ular way, we obtain some of the detail that
said Greenwell. “Corresponding top and done is to exaggerate the size of the stone Cret has in his style,” added Graves.
bottom machined kerfs in the marble and place them in a running bond pattern The exaggerated stone panels are vein-
panel are placed on these continuous rails over the main expanse of the building cut, book-matched marble, while the bor-
that hold the stone in place.” face.” Plus, an exaggerated stone border der is fleuri cut marble. This same combi-
In building this a wall of almost six lay- frames the large marble panels, visually nation blankets the entire expanse of wall
ers, Walbridge/Jenkins had to orchestrate simulating the mortar between the stones. in an elegant, flowing pattern of
a finely tuned symphony of material sys-
tems and subcontractors. “This phase of
the project was a challenge, because it had
many different ‘moving parts’ to coordi-
nate, meaning it had a wide variety of dif-
ferent systems and different subcontrac-
tors,” said Greenwell.
A MASTERPIECE OF A WALL
With ingenuity and skill, a wall in jeop-
ardy of collapse was transformed into a
high-performance envelope with the abili-
ty to safeguard the creative work of the
human spirit for at least another century.
The wall’s appearance was equally trans-
formed from dark granite to bright marble.
Prior to the renovation, both wings were
clad in highly polished dark brown granite
with minimal detail. The dark wings
receded into the background, framing and
focusing attention on the marble-clad mas-
terpiece of the Cret building. “We think
the original modern additions were clad in
a darker stone to create two background
buildings that are very quiet against the
Cret building,” said Graves. “That is a
decent way to go about it. Our interest,
Next Generation Services Group
inc.
however, was to showcase the overall size
of the building and to show that the organ-
ization of the building had changed a great
deal over the years.” Next Generation Environmental, Inc.
Cret’s basic, square Beaux-Art plan had
literally grown wings over the course of Asbestos and Lead Abatement, Envorinmental Remediation,
the museum’s history. The new marble Specialty Coatings
cladding “celebrates” the museum’s
expansion and creates a cohesive building
artfully blending the modern expansion 21st Century Salvage, Inc.
with the early 20th century original.
The new cloak of marble pays homage Industrial and Commercial Demolition,
to the original Cret building, both in type Dismantling, Salvage and Strip Out
of marble and in the stone detailing. In
material type, the Montclair Danby marble
is a stone taken from the same Vermont
quarry as the cladding of the Cret build-
High Tech Industrial Services
ing. In detailing, the newly clad wings are Industrial Cleaning, Water Blasting, Duct Cleaning
a contemporary interpretation of the mar-
and Plant Decommissioning
ble patterning of the Cret building, said
Roehling.
CHARLIE MARTIN cmartin@ngsg1.com
Explained Graves, “As part of the
Beaux-Arts style, the stone details of the 10750 Martz Road
President Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Cret building visually break down the
scale of the façade, adding interest to the Ph: 734.485.4855
building face. Although we are building a Fax: 734.485.6959
contemporary not a neo-classical building,

SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:20 PM Page 130
black-streaked marble. “Obtaining the tinct base of smaller stone with pro- are now restored in both form and func-
right product and matching the marble nounced accent bands and a custom cor- tion. The public has a fitting and appeal-
were very intricate challenges,” said nice of teal-colored composite panels. Fine ing vessel to safely hold the creative spirit
Greenwell. Swenson Stone Consultants art and the art of building meet at this of the ages within these well-designed
oversaw the piecing together of the differ- unique cornice line fabricated by a walls.
ent marble panels to ultimately form the California-based company called Kreysler
final distinctive pattern, added Gierlinger. & Associates. Brinker Group, Detroit, AN AVENUE OF THE ARTS
Obviously, the newly clad wings are installed the composite panels. According The exterior is translated and drawn
brighter than the Cret building whose to Gregg Wielage, AIA, LEED AP, project into the interior of this venerable 600,000-
stone was discolored by the use of a clean- manager, Michael Graves & Associates, square-foot museum. The museum’s con-
ing solution years ago that stripped the Kreysler & Associates also fabricated the tinuous expanse of Montclair marble now
finish from the marble and increased the composite pieces for the monumental stretching along Woodward Avenue paral-
porosity of the stone, said Roehling. sculptures of Claes Oldenburg, a promi- lels the newly created central spine housed
“When that happened that kind of rough nent sculptor best known for public art within the building. “We wanted the clar-
surface started to collect pollution and featuring colossal replicas of everyday ity of a long corridor parallel to Woodward
even algae,” said Graves. “The stone has a objects. “The composite panel cornice is and John R,” said Graves. “Rather than a
slightly different cast to it as a result. But meant to recall the use of the cornices on ‘rabbit warren’ of spaces, the spine creates
the Cret building stone looked like ours the original museum and to shade the win- a clear path through the museum from
when it was first built, and when it is re- dows below,” said Rowe. “We weren’t north to south on two levels.”
cleaned, it will come closer to the newly interested in actually imitating what was Rather than navigating a confusing
applied stone.” As funds become avail- built in 1927, but in establishing a continu- maze, visitors now have an easily under-
able, the master plan calls for the cleaning ity but still acknowledging that what we stood route through the heart of the muse-
of the original building exterior. were doing was modern.” um and easier access to the galleries of
These central panels of prominently After an infusion of thought and labor, their choice. “Using the promenade, visi-
streaked marble are placed between a dis- the once ailing walls of the modern wings tors can access the galleries almost like
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SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:20 PM Page 131
exits on a highway,” said Gierlinger. staircase that we needed to work around,” window mullion pattern for both staircase
The promenade is an expansive, open said Lopez, “but we were able to do that additions and throughout the museum
volume almost resembling the nave of a successfully.” interior as an expression of and link to the
church. This spacious avenue of the arts is For improved vertical circulation, strong divisions of Cret’s original window
designed as gallery space, attracting the Walbridge/Jenkins built two staircase mullions. “Cret’s are not necessarily
eye with its long sight lines ending in additions on the Woodward face of the square, but without making windows
dramatically illuminated works of art. north and south wings, affectionately exactly like his, we wanted a pattern that
“Conceptually, we wanted to provide a referred to by the construction team as would repeat and ultimately compose one
continuous art experience smoothly flow- bookends. Beyond pure function, the two large surface,” said Graves. “We could
ing between ancient, classical, Islamic, monumental stairs have a bold presence have used a different geometry or even a
African, and contemporary art,” said and draw natural light into the interior, random pattern, but we elected not to
Rowe. “It is similar to what we did on the making “the art of architecture” a part of because of the severity of Cret’s geometry.
outside with the exterior unifying the the visitor’s engagement of the senses as The square also has lasting power and a
building into a single museum.” they move through the museum. geometry that can be repeated in other
The master plan examined several alter- Mounting these marble-clad staircases places. The skylight, the flooring, and the
natives for the promenade’s placement, with sunlight pouring into this white, courtyard walls are all tied together
ultimately selecting a location in the center expansive volume of space lends the through this motif.”
of the existing Cret building for better museum’s modern wings some of the The square is the motif but marble is the
access to all galleries, said Roehling. wonder and openness of Cret’s Great Hall. material unifying the exterior and interior.
Altogether, the spine clarifies a pathway, The day’s shifting cloudscapes are framed Newly clad interior walls in the prome-
creates new gallery space, and links the within successive rows of strongly defined nade, the renovated Farnsworth entrance,
existing museum to the new south addi- square windows that together create a sin- and the Café DIA are vein cut Vermont
tion, all without much reshuffling of exist- gle composition (turning a window wall Montclair Danby marble. New flooring in
ing galleries and with minimal revision of into a living canvas) almost resembling a the promenade, the Farnsworth entrance,
the Cret building. “There was a mechani- living painting. and the renovated Prentis and North
cal shaft, an elevator, and a bit of short The square grid is a motif used as the Courts is Vermont Crystal Stratus Danby

SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:21 PM Page 132
JGA Fashions a Retail Facility for Art

Connoisseurs
JGA, a Southfield-based retail design and

brand strategy firm, renovated the DIA’s
3,052-square-foot shop, creating a stunning
new facility within the established parame-
ters of set floors and columns. With a simple
and timeless contemporary design, the new
DIA Shop draws in guests as they enter or
exit the museum. In this space, without nat-
ural light, JGA focused on adding and inte-
grating illumination to create a sense of
openness and to effectively light the mer-
chandise. A color palette of refreshing white
glass and cocoa rift cut oak offers a clean lin-
ear grain that complements the sweeping
veining of the marble floor. Sterling
Millwork, Farmington Hills, was the fixtures
and millwork contractor.
LASZLO REGOS PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY JGA
Concrete
Foundations
& Flatwork
C o m m e rc i a l
Industrial
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Parking Decks
6655 COTTER
STERLING HEIGHTS 586.731.6804
MICHIGAN 48314 586.731.3732 Fax
SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:21 PM Page 133
marble in a frame of Vermont Appalachian HITTING A MOVING TARGET was helpful in establishing first, second,
Green marble. Beyond the new marble Beyond logistics, another vital parame- third priorities and so on, essentially mak-
skin, the renovation created 35,190 square ter remained fluid throughout the project, ing the team build in sequence to ensure
feet of additional gallery space. Gallery namely the budget. “We never had all the we didn’t overspend and get beyond the
space was added in Prentis Court by money together at one time,” said means of fundraising.”
creating balconies on two levels. The Roehling. “The strategy was to keep scope The team formulated a list of 30 items, a
Farnsworth lobby was reshuffled with the out until we knew we had the money to type of wish list for an ideal project. Some
museum store expanded and its placement funnel into the project. The master plan had to be excluded in the value engineer-
shifted to the opposite side of the marble-
clad lobby. A loggia and a new John R
entrance was created offering access to the
museum, the Detroit Film Theater, and to
the south addition’s emerging learning
center and special exhibit space.
DAIEK WOODWORKS: AWARD WINNING
WORKING INSIDE A RUBIC’S CUBE EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOM DOORS,
Reshuffling and working within the hal-
lowed halls of an operating art museum MILLWORK AND FABRICATION
demanded extraordinary coordination and
logistical controls for the protection of the
public and the art treasures on display.
First, the DIA felt a strong public responsi-
bility to keep the museum open to some
extent. “Other major cities have more than
one fine arts museum,” said Gierlinger. “If
the DIA shutdown, there would be noth-
ing of that caliber that would have com-
pensated the public.”
The DIA’s decision dramatically impact-
ed the pace of the project. “Each phase of
the project had virtually the same issues,”
said Greenwell. “It was to keep the muse-
um in operation in terms of visitor circula-
tion, controlling security, and maintaining
humidity and temperature. All of these
issues changed weekly if not daily.”
For security, “we were constantly moni- WE CREATE ARCHITECTURAL
MILLWORK IN THE FINEST
toring points of entrance and egress that
DOORS MILLWORK TRADITION OF THE
shifted constantly,” said Gierlinger. “The CRAFTSMAN AESTHETIC:
HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS
project demanded a strong cross-function- • Custom stile and rail, • Match existing HONORED BY OUTSTANDING
ing team of museum representatives, engineered molding or create new CRAFTSMANSHIP.
LET DAIEK WOODWORKS
logistical people in charge of moving and construction • Grind knives quote your next project.
installing the art, as well as security, the • Interior/Exterior and • Meet AWI standards
architect, and the contractors.” The ripple specialty fabrications` • Engineer compound
effect of every action had to be carefully • Raised or flat panels: and complex moldings
considered. “The team would create a rimbanded, veneered • Any profile for any
planning scenario and walk through it or solid application
mentally,” said Roehling. “If we work in • Cope and stick,
this area how will we get humidity and rabbeted panel molds FABRICATION
heat to the space, how will it impact the or custom to your
artwork, how will it impact the public vis- specifications • Radius trims and
iting the museum, how will we meet code? • Architectural Grade assemblies
There were hundreds of scenarios the team Flush Doors: sketch • Radius templates
carefully considered and thought through face layups, sequence (CNC)
to manage every probability. The toughest or set matching, • Dimensional
part was trying to convert the mechanical custom veneer laminating
system in phases and having to protect the • Doors are CNC • Doors with jambs
integrity of the art. We are literally going machined for and borrowed light
to peel the exterior wall off the wings of accuracy assemblies
the building and also work in the 1927
building.”

SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:21 PM Page 134
ing process, while others had to wait until historical and spiritual context,” according
funds were available almost at the last to a DIA publication. Added Gierlinger,
WORKERS’ minute. The DIA staff worked in the near- “There were critics before that were hesi-
COMPENSATION by Rackham building for several years
until funding was secured for construction
tant about our new approach to open the
art more to the non-connoisseur, to have
PLAN of office space. “That is just one example of more interpretive strategies and to make
scope that was held back until we knew the museum more kid-friendly and more
A group self-insured Workers’ where the project was going financially,” friendly to the average person. All of these
Compensation plan said Roehling. voices have gone away and turned into
providing participants with Unforeseen conditions added to the great praise.”
programs and services complexity of working within fluid oper- Staples & Charles, a Washington, D.C.
superior to those available ating and budgetary conditions. Working design firm specializing in gallery design
in an existing 80-year-old building virtual- and construction, were the gallery design-
through the traditional
ly ensured the project team would ers for the DIA’s startling to new approach
insurance approach. encounter unforeseen conditions. The to art interpretation. Stonebridge
major unforeseen condition was the dis- Construction, Royal Oak, and McCarthy &
COMPARE THE covery of asbestos in the modern wings. Smith, Inc., Farmington Hills, served as
DIFFERENCE! “After a long internal struggle in the DIA gallery contractors.
between encapsulation or remediation, it Since the DIA’s grand gala opening Nov.
For further information and was determined that remediation would 10, 2007, more than 350,000 people have
comparative cost proposal — be the best course,” said Gierlinger. “We visited the renovated museum. “Before
Call Dee Macy at CAM-COMP wanted to call the building completely this project, the only time we had numbers
asbestos free at the end of the day. Also, like that was during major special exhibi-
(586) 790-7810
because the layout changes constantly for tions such as Degas or Van Gogh,” said
Fax (586) 790-7929 various displays, every time a wall would Gierlinger. “In the past few months, the
Toll Free (888) 867-4764 need to be modified, a containment area number of school groups has quadrupled.
34360 Harper Ave. would have to be created. It would have It’s been unbelievable. Added Spors, “The
Clinton Twp., MI 48035-3704 been too cumbersome.” projected attendance for the year would
Remediation added to the budget and exceed 600,000, including a new Monet to
schedule, pushing back the grand opening Dali exhibit scheduled to open in October
to November 2007 and precipitating the 2008.
complete demolition and reconfiguration “The DIA Director Graham Beal was
of the north and south wing interior. This hoping that people walking through the
20-year endeavor has certainly not been a would already be thinking, ‘I want to come
mere cosmetic renovation. Core issues of back,’” continued Gierlinger. “We get that
the building were resolved and this stellar reaction a great deal. We are being com-
museum returned to the public good. The pared to a world-class institution based on
project improved basic functions, includ- the e-mails, phone calls and other feed-
ing new restrooms and two loading docks. back pouring in. It is just spectacular.”
The DIA now has food service and gather- The DIA is currently finishing the interi-
ing spaces to generate revenue from ven- or built out of the south addition and
ues for children’s educational programs to hopes to restore the dilapidated exterior
corporate board of directors meetings and staircase on the John R building elevation,
large fundraising galas. said Spors. Work on a masterpiece never
ends, but all can now savor the DIA’s great
A NEW WAY OF SEEING gift to the public in the form of this dra-
With clearer pathways, the visitor can matic transformation of a cultural jewel.
easily navigate through the museum. “It is a joy to provide a work for the city
With the DIA’s new approach to art inter- and for the public that is enduring and that
pretation, the visitor can also more clearly works for them in unexpected ways,” said
navigate through the world of art. Graves.
Interactive graphics and technology allow The builder’s art and the disciplines of
a visitor to see how art objects were used art and architecture have brought the cre-
in the daily life of its time period. For ative fire of the human hand, heart and eye
example, a life-size video of an African to bear on this prominent museum.
masquerade shows the actual use of the Thanks to Walbridge/Jenkins, the
displayed masks. “Eye Spy” labels in gal- SmithGroup, Michael Graves & Associates
leries throughout the museum encourage and a long list of skilled consultants and
children to learn about art by playing this subtrades, this respected institute literally
well-known game. “The driving principle has shed its old skin and has been reborn
behind all these changes was the need to as a truly world-class art museum in
put the works of art in their original social, Detroit’s own backyard.
SI 2008 122-135 DIA 9/26/08 4:21 PM Page 135
Wolverine Stone “Capps” Off

a Great Project
By Mary E. Kremposky, Associate Editor
T
he grandfather of Ron Capp, president of Wolverine Stone original. The 20 pieces ranged from 12 to 36 inches in length and
Co., Warren, worked on the DIA in the 1930s, talking casu- five to eight inches in depth.”
ally with Diego Rivera himself as the artist painted his The third part of Wolverine’s Phase I contract was blanketing
renowned murals from 1932 to 1933. The conversation between the Café DIA interior in marble. The floor alone is clad in three
Benny Capp, original owner of Wolverine Stone, and the famous different types of stone: Crystal Stratus marble from Vermont as
painter shows how long Wolverine Stone has been working at the the main field on the floor; Verde Antiqua as the perimeter floor
Detroit Institute of Arts. The 84-year-old company has worked at border; and Bursting Star slate from Great Britain as the main
the DIA since 1928, shaping a great deal of the marble in the muse- field’s ribbon border. The café walls are Mont Clair Danby from
um interior over the course of the last 80 years. Major projects Vermont.
include the floor renovation of the Rivera Court in about 1988. “All the material was selected up in the Vermont quarry, block
Overall, three generations of Wolverine Stone owners – Benny by block, slab by slab by myself and Gregg Wielage from Michael
Capp, Ben Capp, Jr., Stan Capp, and now Ron Capp – have left Graves & Associates,” said Capp. “We had special instructions
their mark on this venerable museum. from the architect on how to blend the Crystal Stratus veining on
Wolverine Stone handled three projects in Phase I of the DIA’s the floor. Per the architect’s instructions, we had to place the more
most recent transformation. In 2001, Wolverine replaced the strongly veined Mont Clair Danby at the floor level and place
grand marble entrance stairs leading from Woodward Avenue to stone with successively less veining as one worked up the wall.
the DIA’s very doors, as well as the large side or cheek walls flank- They didn’t want a great deal of heavy veining at eye level and
ing this prominent staircase. Damaged beyond repair, both the above. It was a challenge working with the naturally very heavy
grand staircase and the cheek walls had to be removed and veined Mont Clair Danby, but we were successfully able to accom-
replaced. plish the goal.”
Matching the existing Vermont Imperial Danby entailed a trip Wolverine Stone remained on the job in Phase II working as a
to Italy with Walbridge Aldinger/Jenkins and Swenson Stone subcontractor to Chezcore in the installation of 5,000 square feet of
Consultants to match the material. The quarry had shipped large Vermont ashlar pattern slate flooring in Kresge Court. As the sec-
blocks to Italy for fabrication of the thick marble pieces with the ond portion of its Phase II scope, the 84-year-old company earned
Italian fabricator’s specialty equipment. The cheek walls meas- its place in the spotlight as the contractor responsible for disman-
ured up to 24 inches thick by 48 inches wide, while the staircase is tling, crating and shipping the famous sculpture of The Thinker
formed of solid treads, 5 inches thick and approximately 16 inch- temporarily to Grand Rapids. The Frederic Meijer Gardens
es deep, said Capp. served as The Thinker’s new home from May 2007 to October
“Our mission was to make sure we matched the material, and 2007 during work on the brick pavers of the DIA’s front entrance
we also matched all the existing profiles of the stair treads, the drive.
cheek walls, and an ornamental hand-carved volute,” said Capp. Working for Wolverine Stone, Connelly Crane Co., Redford,
The volute is an ornamental stone piece placed near the junction used a 35-ton crane to hoist the 1,500 lbs. sculpture to a palette.
of the cheek wall and the building. “We had to remove one of the “We built an insulated crate around it, and then placed it in a
existing volute pieces, which weighed about two tons and ship it truck with a forklift,” said Dave Schmidt, Wolverine project man-
to Italy,” said Capp. “The Italian fabricator was then able to use ager and 35-year veteran of the stone company. “We had the crate
the shipped piece as a template to match the profile and carve the double strapped and secure. After all, I believe there are only
new volute.” seven of these statues in the world. Also, we’ve done this type of
Western Waterproofing first installed a new waterproofing sys- work many times, but not with the media and a crowd watching.
tem on the entire deck, as well as underneath the treads and cheek “It was quite a production,” he continued. “Professional
walls, to protect the DIA basement directly below. Wolverine Movers provided the air ride trailer. One person from the DIA
Stone then installed and set the cumbersome cheek walls with a rode in the truck cab and another followed the air ride trailer to
crane, Capp added. Grand Rapids where again the cameras were on us. They had a
As the second portion of its Phase I work, Wolverine Stone per- temporary base set up for The Thinker in a beautiful area of the
formed Dutchman repair and replacement of damaged exterior gardens next to a waterfall.”
windowsills on the north, south and west elevations of the Cret On October 24, 2007 as the DIA’s gala opening neared,
building. The original wrought iron ornamental railing anchored Wolverine retrieved the 12,000 lbs. granite base from temporary
in the stone sill had rusted over the years and had damaged the storage, and brought The Thinker home to the DIA. “It was a fun
original windowsills. “We saw-cut, removed and replaced all the experience,” said Schmidt. “It went off beautifully, and every-
damaged original marble using new stone from Vermont,” said body was great to work with.”
Capp. “In Dutchman repair we put large pieces in place, grind
and reshape, and then carve and match the existing profile of the

SI 2008 136-148 Sub Lists 9/29/08 12:54 PM Page 136
SUBCONTRACTOR LIST
SUBCONTRACTORS AND PROFESSIONAL • Demolition - Detroit Dismantling Corp., Detroit • Interior Design and Furnishing - Tamara Kessler &
CONSULTANTS LISTED HERE ARE IDENTIFIED • CCTV/Voice/Data/Cable TV – ECS Kahn, LLC, Detroit; Associates, Inc., Detroit
BY THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR, ARCHITECT LVC Technologies, Inc., Auburn Hills • Jump Form System - EFCO, Detroit
OR OWNER. • Detailing & Engineering - Arcan Engineering, Houston TX • Kitchen & Bar Equipment - Gold Star Products, Inc.,
• Doors, Frames & Hardware Supply - Russell Hardware Oak Park
MOTOR CITY CASINO Company, Bloomfield Hills • Landfill (Excavated Spoils) - Waste Management, Inc.,
Owner: Detroit Entertainment LLC, Detroit • Duct Insulation Wrap - Michigan Mechanical Insulation, Detroit
Construction Manager: Michigan Industrial Group, Detroit Inc., Farmington Hills • Layout - Metco Services, Inc., Detroit
Architect and Engineer of Record: Giffels-NORR Limited, • Dumpster/Trash Removal - Women’s Economic • Lift Equipment - NES Rentals, Detroit
Detroit/Toronto Empowerment Group dba WEEG, Detroit; C & R • Lot for Construction Parking/Material Storage -
Design Consultant: Foose Designs, Huntington Beach, CA Maintenance, Inc. dba Rizzo Services, Detroit; Allied Waste Raymond & Mildred Phillips, Detroit
Interior Designers: Genesis Associates, Santa Ana, CA Services, Detroit; Capital Waste, Detroit • Manlift Equipment Rental & Service - Sky-Reach, Inc.,
Structural Engineer: Ledy Design Group, Lansing • EIFS - ADM Construction, Inc., Jonesville; De Backer & New Hudson
• Lighting Designs: LDA, Los Angeles, CA Sons, Inc., Warren; Saylor’s, Inc., Ottawa Lake • Mason Contractor - Liedal & Hart Mason Contractors,
• Visual Design: Specialized Audio Visual, Inc., • Electrical Splicing/Testing - Magna Electric Corporation, Livonia
Clifton Park, NY New Hudson • Masonry Consulting - Central Masonry and Cement, Inc.,
• Kitchen Consultants: Stephen Bangs Associates, Inc., • Electrical Contractor (Casino, Continental Building, Parking Rochester Hills
Livonia Garage, All Fire Alarm System Installations, and Site Work) • Masonry Restoration - Akins Construction, Inc.,
• Construction Erection: Ruby + Associates, - Bayview Electric LLC, Detroit Sterling Heights
Farmington Hills • Electrical Contractor (Hotel) – Cannon Electric, Macomb • Material Storage - Rose Moving & Storage Company, Inc.,
• Fire Alarm Systems: SimplexGrinnell, Farmington Hills • Elevator Shaft Drilling - United Drilling, Inc., Belleville
Plumsteadville, PA • Mechanical Consulting - Ironwood Consulting, Inc.
MOTOR CITY CASINO SUBCONTRACTORS • Engineering/Layout - Metco Services, Inc., Detroit • Mechanical Contractors - Cooney Engineering Company,
• Aggregate - Hayes Washed Sand & Gravel, Novi • Environmental Consulting - Nova Environmental, Inc., Detroit
• Air Balancer - Enviro-Aire/Total Balance Co., Inc., Ann Arbor • Mechanical ID - L.E. Brockman Co., Warren
St. Clair Shores • Equipment - United Rentals, Taylor • Mechanical Piping Contractors - Eastern Mechanical, Fraser
• Air Duct Cleaning - Sani-Vac Services, Inc., Warren • Equipment Rentals, Delivery Only - National Ladder • Mechanical/Plumbing Contractors - Macomb Mechanical,
• Asphalt Paving (Continental Bldg., Parking Deck) - & Scaffold Co., Madison Heights Inc., Sterling Heights
Nagle Paving Co., Novi • Excavation - Detroit Building Group, LLC, Detroit • Metal Fabricators - Quality Metalcraft, Inc., Livonia
• Automatic Doors - Stanley Access Technologies, • Excavation Work - Detroit Building Group, LLC, Detroit; • Metal Siding - Crown Corr, Inc., Gary, IN
Madison Heights Eagle Excavation, Flint • Metal Soffits - Michigan Metal Walls, Inc., Wyandotte
• Basement Earth Retention System - Total Foundations, LLC, • Exhaust Fans - Motor City Ventilation, Inc., Detroit • Millwork - Dovetails, Inc., Waterford;
Romulus • Exterior Metal Walls - J.L. Judge Construction Services, Madeira Woodworking Co., LLC, Troy;
• Beverage Conduit Lines - Colombo Sales & Engineering, Detroit Brunt Associates, Inc., Wixom
Inc., Ferndale • Fab and Install Stainless Steel Fascia - Aristeo Construction • Millwork, Continental Bldg. - Mueller Custom Cabinetry,
• Building Automation & Controls - Siemens Building Company, Inc., Livonia Inc., Pacoima, CA
Technologies, Inc., Plymouth • Fabrication & Erection Structural Steel - Bristol Steel & • Operable Wall Partitions - Urban’s Partition & Remodeling
• Building Material Supply - Ryan Building Materials, Inc., Conveyor Corp., Davison Co., Northville
Southfield; Ryans Lakeland Building Materials, Clarkston • Fire Protection System, Hotel - Wolverine Fire Protection • Painting - Future Maintenance, Inc., Livonia
• Caissons/Drilled Piers - Lanaville Foundations, Inc., Co., Mt. Morris • Painting, Casino - Midwest Pro Painting, Inc., Livonia
Howell • Fire Safing and CW Insulation - Whitson Insulation • Painting, Special Finishes, Wallpaper – Joe’s Faux’s, Inc.,
• Carpentry/Drywall/Doors & Frames - GTB Interiors, LLC; Company, Royal Oak Dillon, CO
Turner Brooks, Madison Heights • Drilled Pier Contractor - Lanaville Foundations, Howell • Parking Gates - Cincinnati Time Systems, Inc.,
• Casino Tile Supply & Installation - Booms Stone Company, • Fire/Security Alarm - SimplexGrinnell, Farmington Hills Farmington Hills
Redford • Fireproofing - Pontiac Drywall Systems, Pontiac • Pipe Insulation - Master Mechanical Insulation, Inc., Troy;
• Concrete Accessories - Barnes & Sweeney Enterprises, • Fireproofing Casino Addition - William E. Harnish R.L. Bondy Insulation Co., Madison Heights
Walled Lake Acoustical, Inc., Redford • Plumbing Floors 3-15 - Guideline Mechanical, Inc.,
• Concrete Contractor - Colasanti Construction, Detroit • Floor Capping - Central Distribution & Insulation, Inc., Clinton Township
• Concrete Cutting - FMG, Pontiac; Northern Concrete Kalamazoo; Baywest, Detroit • Portable Toilets - Porta John Systems, Inc., Utica
Cutting, Inc., Dryden • Floor Installation - Precision Industrial Services, Inc., • Portable Toilets - Rick’s Portables Sanitation, LLC,
• Concrete Forming Equipment Suppliers - Doka USA Ltd., Detroit Fowlerville
Detroit • Floor Installation - Motor City Custom Interiors, Detroit • Precast - Hollowcore Incorporated, Detroit
• Concrete Pouring in Spa/Hotel - Lightcrete Companies, • Foose Roof/Panel Siding - C.L. Rieckhoff Co., Inc., Taylor • Precast Concrete Grout - North American Structural, LLC,
Inc., Whitmore Lake • Furniture Fixture Installation - Midwest Installation, Inc., Ray
• Concrete Pumps - CCK Equipment Company, Detroit; Cross Novi • Precast Installation - Precast Services, Inc., Detroit
Enterprises, Inc., Melvindale • Generator Re-Commissioning - PM Technologies, LLC, • Precast Steel - National Precast, Inc., Roseville
• Concrete Saw Cutting - Cougar Contracting, Inc., Wixom; Wixom • Rebar installation - Dynamic Contracting, Inc., Toledo, OH
F.M.G. Concrete Cutting, Inc., Brighton • Glass, Glazing and Metal Work, Curtainwall - Icon Glass • Refrigeration Connections to Walk-In Coolers - A.C. Coutts,
• Concrete Supplier - Koenig Fuel & Supply, LLC, Detroit Systems, Inc., Livonia Wixom
• Concrete Supplier (Delivery) - Clawson Concrete Company, • Ground Core Samples - McDowell & Associates, Ferndale • Refrigeration, Pipe Fitting, Controls - Steele-Johnson, Inc.,
Division of Edw. C. Levy, Detroit • Hauling - Superior Demolition Company, Detroit; Hayes Auburn Hills
• Concrete Testing - Muirhead Construction, Milford Trucking, Inc., Novi; Summit Transport, Brighton • Reinforcing Steel Supplier (Delivery) - The Boomer
• Concrete Testing/Welding Inspection - Testing Engineers & • Heaters, Supply Only - Jetheat, Inc., Fraser Company, Detroit
Consultants, Inc., Detroit • Utility Locator, Hi-Pot Testing to Generator & Transformer - • Resteel, Supply & Install - B&S Resteel, Walled Lake
• Concrete Toppings - Kent Companies dba Kent Power Plus Engineering, Novi • Roofing - Royal Roofing Co., Inc., Orion
Underlayment Specialties, Redford • Hi-Pot Testing/Maintenance - Powertech Services, Inc., • Rooftop Fall Arrest System - Unistrut Canada Limited,
• Concrete Work - Ferrini Contracting Corp., Detroit; Swartz Creek Ajax, Ontario
Colasanti Specialty Services, Detroit; Akins Construction, • Hotel Buckhoist - Elevator Technology, Inc., Detroit • Sawcutting (Concrete) - Detroit Diamond Drilling, Inc.,
Detroit • Hotel Cleanup/Painting of Parking Structure - Eugenio Detroit
• Construction of Temporary Dock Enclosure - Jimenez Painting Company, Grosse Pte. Woods • Scaffold/Installation - Safway Services, Inc., Detroit;
Construction, Detroit; Applied Handling, Inc., Dearborn • Hotel Elevators - KONE Elevators, Livonia Patent Construction Systems, A Harsco Corp., Taylor;
• Core Drilling - Detroit Diamond Drilling, Detroit • Hotel Glass Cleaning - Hercules & Hercules, Inc., Detroit Safeworks LLC dba Spider a division of Safeworks, LLC,
• Crane Equipment Rental - Jeffers Crane Services, Inc., • Hotel Roofing - Schena Roofing & Sheet Metal Co., Inc., Romulus
Highland; LW Connelly Crane & Son, Inc. dba Connelly Chesterfield • Security - DELRAY Security Consultants
Crane Rental Corp, Detroit; Allingham Corporation, • Hotel Spa - Camps Services, Ltd., Fenton • Sheet Flooring, Casino - Master Craft Floors, Inc., Redford
Southfield • Hotel Tile Supply & Installation - Mirage Tile & Marble Co., • Signage - EEC Industries, LTD, North Vancouver, B.C.;
• Crane Maintenance - Cleveland Crane & Shovel, Cleveland, Inc., Farmington Hills Harmon Signs, Inc., Toledo, OH
OH • HVAC, Hotel - W.J. O’Neil Company, Livonia; Partlan- • Site Surveying - Giffels-Webster Engineers, Inc., Detroit;
• Crane Suppliers - LW Connelly Crane & Son, Inc. dba Labadie Sheet Metal Co., Oak Park; R.L. Bondy Insulation Field Measurements, Inc., Clinton Township
Connelly Crane Rental Corp., Detroit; Jeffers Crane, Co., Madison Heights • Site trailers - McDonald Modular Solutions, Inc., Southfield;
Highland • HVAC Controls - Detroit Electrical Services, Detroit McDonald Modular, Southfield
• Custom Metal Fabrication - Philip Rohan dba Lost City • HVAC Removal - Aristeo Rigging & Erectors, LLC, Livonia • Site Work - Blaze Contracting, Inc., MBE, Detroit
Ironworks, Los Angeles, CA • HVAC Units Supplier and Start-Up - Thermal-Netics, Inc., • Site/Street Sweeping - Armadillo Services, Inc., Birmingham
• Custom Metal Fabrication/Install - TruFab, Inc., Warren Auburn Hills • Spa Cove Lighting - Phillips Sign & Lighting, Inc.,
• Deck Installation - Martin Structural Sales, Brighton; • Installation Marble Walls - Michigan Tile & Marble Co., Harrison Township
City Steel, Inc., Waterford Detroit • Spray-On Insulation - Stony Creek Services, Inc., Ypsilanti
• Delivery of Steel - Horizon Transport, Wakarusa, IN • Insulation/Framing - Jasman Construction, Inc., Whitmore Lk.
SU BCONTR ACTOR LIST
• Stainless Steel Equipment/Kitchen Equipment -

Institutional Equipment, Inc.
• Steel Erection - Whaley Steel Corporation, Mio; Monarch
Welding & Engineering, Inc., Warren
• Steel Fabrication - W.J. Metal
• Steel & Precast Erector/Steel Stair Supplier/Installation -
Whaley Steel Corporation, Mio
• Steel Supplier - Dymin Steel, Inc., Brampton, Ontario
• Steel Supplier, Hotel Structure - Metro Steel Fabricators, Inc.
Hazel Park
• Striping - Motor City Marking, Inc., Detroit
• Structural Steel - Utica Steel, Inc., Chesterfield; OEM
Distribution, LLC; Vertex Steel, Inc., Milford
• Structural Steel, Install Steel Fins/Tubes - Vertex Steel, Inc.,
Milford
• Supply Materials and Possible Technical Support -
Gardner Signs, Inc., Troy
• Temp Electric to Site Trailers/Hotel - Motor City Electric
Company, Detroit
• Temp. Fencing - Future Fence Company, Warren
• Temp. Gravel in Parking Lot - J.J. Barney Construction, Inc.,
Rochester Hills
• Temporary Construction/ Casino/Cont. - Charles James
and Associates, Detroit; Jasman Construction, Inc.,
Whitmore Lake
• Temporary Construction/Painting - Midwest Pro Painters,
Livonia
• Temporary Fence - Rite Way Fence Company,
Sterling Heights
• Temporary Heat to Casino - U.S. Distributing, Inc.,
Birmingham
• Temporary Heat to Hotel - Flamegas, Inc., Milford
• Temporary Stairs, Delivery - Patent Construction, Taylor
• Theatrical Lighting Design - Westbury National Show
System, Ltd., Toronto, Ontario
• Thermostats/Hotel - Inncom International, Inc., Niantic, CT
• Tile & Marble - Michigan Tile & Marble Co., Detroit
• Tile & Masonry - Malone Tile & Masonry
• Tile & Stone - Marble Restoration, Inc. dba Decorative
Flooring Services, Maumee, OH
• Tile & Stone Supply - Dwyer Marble & Stone Supply,
Inc., Farmington Hills
• Traffic Signal Installers - Posen Construction, Inc.,
Shelby Township
• Trucking - J.M.D. Contracting, Detroit; Laramie, Detroit;
PSI, Detroit; Vickerd Brothers, Detroit; Hayes Trucking,
Novi
• Utility Locator, Hi-Pot Testing to Generator & Transformer -
Power Plus Engineering, Novi
• Vanities (Supply & Install) - Ferrante Manufacturing
Company, Detroit
• Vapor Barrier - Ann Arbor Ceilings & Partitions, Ann Arbor
• Walk-In Refrigeration Units - Chryser & Koppin Company,
Detroit
• Water Damage Mitigation - Coach’s Carpet Care, Inc. dba
Coach’s Catastrophic Cleaning & Restoration Services,
Ypsilanti
• Waterproofing - D.C. Beyers Company, Detroit
• Waterproofing Foundation - Western Waterproofing,
Livonia
• Water Tap -Watertap, Inc., South Lyon
• Window Wall System - American Glass & Metals Corp.,
Plymouth
• Window Washing System - Equicon Services, Inc.,
Mississauga, Ontario
DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT NORTH

TERMINAL REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Owner – Wayne County Airport Authority, Detroit
Master Architect/Design Architect – Gensler, Detroit
Construction Manager – Walbridge Barton Malow, LLC,
Detroit
Associate Architect – GHAFARI Associates, LLC, Dearborn
Assistant Architect/Landscape Architect – Hamilton
Anderson Associates, Inc., Detroit
Assistant Architect/Plumbing Engineering Support –
Scales & Associates, Inc., Detroit
Lead Civil Engineer (Air Side) – Reynolds, Smith & Hill,
Flint
Lead Civil Engineer (Land Side) – Tucker, Young, Jackson,
Tull, Inc., Detroit
Lead Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing Engineer –
Syska Hennessy Group, Inc., New York, NY
Lead Structural Engineer – Thornton-Tomasetti Group,
Inc., Chicago, IL

SUBCONTRACTOR LIST
DETROIT METROPOLITAN AIRPORT NORTH TERMINAL • Siding and Metal Wall Panels – Crown Corr, Inc., Flat Rock THE MALL AT PARTRIDGE CREEK — SUBCONTRACTORS
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT — SUBCONTRACTORS • Soil and Pipe Testing – Corrosion Control, Inc., • Arborist – Branch Tree Service, Inc.
• Air Handling Units – York – A Johnson Controls Company, Rutledge, GA • Architectural Casework, Millwork, Postal Specialties –
Auburn Hills • Structural Engineering Support – Desai/Nasr Consulting Brunt Associates, Inc., Wixom
• Airside Civil Work – Angelo Iafrate Construction Co., Engineers, Inc., West Bloomfield • Architectural Signage – Harmon Sign DBA Planet Neon, Novi
Warren • Structural Steel – Midwest Steel, Inc., Detroit • Children’s Playcourt – Playtime, LLC, Englewood, CO
• Apron Services Engineer – Burns & McDonnell, • Temporary Chiller – Hale Contracting, Inc., MBE, Detroit • Concrete Foundations – Broadcast Design & Construction,
Kansas City, MO • Terminal Special Systems Engineer – Glover Associates, Inc., Mount Clemens
• Asbestos Abatement and Management Services – Roseville, CA • Civil Engineer – Giffels-Webster Engineers, Rochester Hills
Environmental Consulting Group, Inc., Ann Arbor • Testing and Inspection – Professional Service Industries, Inc., • Construction Manager (MJR Theater) Roncelli, Inc.,
• Baggage Handling System – Siemens Logistics & Assembly, Plymouth Sterling Heights
DFW Airport, TX • US Air Diverter Additional Work – Belt Maintenance • Construction Manager (Nordstrom) W.E. O’Neil
• Ceilings – Turner-Brooks, Inc., Madison Heights Midwest, Romulus Construction, Chicago, IL
• Civil (Air and Land Sides) and Structural Engineering • Construction Manager (Parisian) Beeler Construction, Inc.,
Support – Northwest Consultants, Canton GROUND TRANSPORTATION CENTER Menomonee Falls, WI
• Civil Engineering Support (Land Side) – ABE Associates, • Baggage Handling System – Siemens Logistics & Assembly, • Customer Service Aluminum Storefront, Valet Booth, Glass
Inc., Detroit Detroit and Glazing – Modern
• Civil Engineering Support (Land Side) – BBF Engineering • Concrete Foundations – Simone Contracting Corporation, • Electrical Engineer – Swanson Rink, Inc., Denver, CO
Services, Detroit Sterling Heights • Estimating Consultant – DES Consulting, L.L.C.,
• Civil Engineering Support (Air and Land Sides) – Somat • Deep Foundation Piling – E.C. Korneffel Co., Trenton Farmington Hills
Engineering, Inc., Detroit • Electrical and Fire Alarm System – Superior Electric Great • Fountain Consultant – Waterline Studios, Fort Collins, CO
• Commissioning and Testing – Kahn Global Services, Inc., Lakes Company, Troy • Geotechnical Engineer, Testing and Inspection – Soil and
Detroit • Fire Suppression – S.A. Comunale Company, Inc., Materials Engineers, Inc., Plymouth
• Concrete Slab on Grade – Simone Contracting Corporation, Farmington • Hardware Consultant – Ingersoll-Rand Company, Ferndale
Sterling Heights • HVAC Sheetmetal – John E. Green Company, • Landscape Design Architect – Lawrence J. Tencza
• Demolition – Adamo Demolition Company, Detroit Highland Park Associates, East Orange, NJ
• Davey Terminal – Mechanical Cut and Cap – Anzaldua • Precast Concrete – National Precast, Inc., Roseville • Life Safety/Code Analysis/Fire Protection/Fire Alarm –
Mechanical, Inc., Detroit • Special Systems – Ferndale Electric ESS Division, Ferndale Code Consultants, Inc., St. Louis, MO
• Driven Steel Piling – E. C. Korneffel Co., Trenton • Structural Steel – Midwest Steel, Inc., Detroit • Lighting Design – Hillmann Dibernardo Leiter Castelli,
• Drywall – Walbridge Barton Malow Interiors, Oak Park • Testing and Inspection Services – The Mannik & Smith New York, NY
• Electrical Core and Shell – Superior Electric Great Lakes Group, Canton • Mechanical Engineer – E & S Construction Engineers, Inc.,
Company, Troy • Vertical Transportation Equipment – Schindler Elevator Pasadena, MD
• Electrical Cut and Cap [Utility Rebuild] – Center Line Corporation, Livonia • Mechanical/Electrical Consultant – Alfaro-Slotka
Electric, Inc., Center Line Associates, Inc., Milford
• Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Support – GHAFARI • Owner’s Store Layout Drafting Services – JPRA Architects,
Associates, LLC, Dearborn METRO HEALTH HOSPITAL Novi
• Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Support – Sigma Owner: Metro Health Hospital, Wyoming • Project Designer – Communication Arts, Inc., Boulder, CO
Associates, Inc., Detroit Construction Manager: Michigan Office of Turner • Roofing Consultant – Detroit Roofing Inspection Service,
• Elevators, Escalators and Moving Walkways – Schindler Construction Company, Detroit; The Christman Company, Warren
Elevator Corporation, Livonia Grand Rapids, Joint Venture • Snow Melt Consultant – Performance Engineering Group,
• Electrical and Fire Alarm – Motor City Electric Co., Detroit Architect and Engineer of Record: HDR Architecture, Inc., Inc., Livonia
• Fire Protection – S.A. Comunale Company, Inc., Farmington Omaha, NE • Specification Consultant – Richard L. De Lisle, Grosse
• Fireproofing – William Reichenbach Co., Lansing Program Manager: Navigant Consulting, Chicago Pointe Farms
• Flooring – Terrazzo and Ceramic Tile – Artisan Tile, Inc., • Structural Engineer - L & A, Inc., Farmington Hills
Brighton METRO HEALTH HOSPITAL — MAJOR • Tenant Build-Out Coordinator, Sachse, Construction and
• Foundations and Davey Terminal – Concrete Bulkheads, SUBCONTRACTORS Development Corp., Birmingham
Civil and Architectural, Utility • Asphalt Paving – Aggregate Industries, Kalamazoo • Traffic Engineer – Birchler Arroyo Associates, Inc.,
• Rebuild – Aristeo Construction Co., Livonia • Commissioning – SSRCx.LLC, Nashville, TN Lathrup Village
• General Trades, General Trades Core and Shell and Spirit • Electrical – Buist Electric, Inc., Byron Center; Feyen-Aylstra, • Traffic Signal Consultant – Mansell Associates, Inc.,
Airlines Architectural and Grand Rapids Farmington
• Partial Concourse “C” – The Patersen Companies, Inc., • Elevator – Otis Elevator Company, Grand Rapids • Building Automation Systems – Roth Bros, Inc., Tampa, FL
Wixom • Exterior Stud Walls – Ritsema Associates, Grandville • Carpet and Vinyl Flooring – Ideal Floor Covering, Inc.,
• General Trades – Finishes, Hollow Metal – Ideal • Fire Extinguishers, Cabinets – S.A. Morman & Co., Rochester
Contracting, LLC, MBE, Detroit Grand Rapids • Mirror & Glass Co., Roseville
• Glazing and Glazed Aluminum Curtain Wall – Universal • Fire Protection – Brigade Fire Protection, Belmont • Fencing – Industrial Fence & Landscaping, Inc., Detroit
Glass and Metals, Inc., MBE, Detroit • Landscaping – Katerberg Verhage, Grand Rapids • Fire Alarm – Premier Electronics, Inc., Macomb
• HVAC – AppleGate, Inc., Jackson • MEP & Misc. Equipment – Turner Logistics, Detroit • Fire Protection Sprinkler System – Shambaugh & Son,
• HVAC Controls – Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., • Masonry – Lynn Masonry, Ada Southfield
Plymouth • Mechanical Controls – Johnson Controls, Inc., Auburn Hills • Framing and Partitions, Ceilings, Insulation, EIFS, Thin
• Hydrant Fuel Transfer Pipeline Testing – Tuboscope • Metal Panels/Glass/Glazing – Architectural Glass and Brick, Drywall, Doors and Hardware – Pontiac Ceiling
Pipeline Services, Houston, TX Metals, Inc., Kalamazoo & Partition, Pontiac
• Interior Glazing – Madison Heights Glass Co., Inc., • Millwork and Casework – Trend Millwork, Inc., • Furniture – Wesnic Services, Inc., Jacksonville, FL
Ferndale Lincoln Park • HVAC and Sheet Metal – McShane Mechanical Contracting,
• Interior Wall Systems – Ann Arbor Ceiling & Partition Co., • Painting – H & H Painting, Kalamazoo Commerce Township
Inc., Ypsilanti • Plumbing – Andy J. Egan Company, Inc., Grand Rapids • Landscaping and Irrigation – W.H. Canon, Romulus
• Interior Window Washing Equipment – PROB-BEL, Ajax, • Pneumatic Tube – Swisslog Healthcare Solutions, • Masonry and Stone Elements – Monte Costella & Company,
ON, Canada Rolling Meadows, IL Novi
• Landside Civil Phase II and Davey Ramp Bypass, Fencing, • Roofing and Sheet Metal – Great Lakes Systems, Inc., • Mall and Plaza Electric and Electric Systems – Maryland
• Signage and Striping – Dan’s Excavating, Inc., Jenison Electric, Clinton Township
Shelby Township • Rubbish Removal – Allied Waste Services Detroit, Jenison • Overhead Doors – Crawford Door Sales, Inc., Detroit
• Lighting Design – Illuminating Concepts, Farmington Hills • Studs and Drywall – The Bouma Corporation, • Painting – Duross Painting Company, Warren
• Low Voltage Electrical – Ferndale Electric ESS Division, Grand Rapids • Plumbing and Fountains – Guideline Mechanical, Inc.,
Ferndale • Structural Steel – Steel Supply & Engineering, Clinton Township
• Masonry – Leidal & Hart Mason Contractors, Livonia Grand Rapids • Public Restroom Wall and Floor Tile, Solid Surface Vanities
• Mat Foundations and Slab on Deck – Walbridge Barton • Testing & Balancing – Kinetix Testing & Commissioning, and Niches – Michielutti Brothers, Inc., Eastpointe
Malow Concrete Services, Detroit Newaygo • Roofing and Metal Panels – Royal Roofing Company, Orion
• Mechanical Cut and Cap [Utility Rebuild] and Hydrant • Trailer Cleaning – United Commercial Services, • Site Earthwork, Site Utilities, Grading, Asphalt Paving,
Fueling System – Pipe Systems, Inc., Troy Grand Rapids Parking Lot Striping, Regulatory Signage, Curbs, Concrete
• Millwork – Trend Millwork, Inc., Lincoln Park • Unitstrut – Unistrut Detroit Service Company, Wayne Pavers and Colored Concrete – John Carlo, Inc., Clinton Twp.
• Painting – Madias Brothers, Inc., Detroit • Site Electric – Alpha Electric, Inc., Sterling Heights
• Passenger Boarding Bridges Refurbishment – • Site Sidewalks/Slab on Grade – Albanelli Cement
ThyssenKrupp Airport Systems, Inc., Fort Worth, TX THE MALL AT PARTRIDGE CREEK Contractors, Inc., Livonia
• Plumbing and Piping – E.L. Plumbing and Mechanical, Inc., Owner/Developer – Taubman Company Centers Inc., • Snow Melt System – Goyette Mechanical, Flint
Detroit, John E. Green Company, Highland Park Bloomfield Hills • Structural Steel Ornamental Metals – B&A Steel Company,
• RF Systems – Superior Electric Great Lakes Company, Troy Construction Manager – Skanska USA Building Inc., Inc., Chesterfield
• Roofing – Christen Detroit, Detroit Parsippany, NJ (with a local office in Southfield) • Toilet Accessories, Toilet Partitions, Doors and Hardware –
• Security Systems – Center Line Technologies, Center Line Architect – Hobbs + Black Associates, Inc., Ann Arbor A&C Builders Hardware, Warren
CHASE PLASTIC SERVICES, INC. • Aluminum Materials – Aluminum Supply Co., Inc., Detroit • Foundations – Gemelli Concrete LLC, Romeo
Owner – Chase Plastic Services Inc., Clarkston • Studs/Gyp/Ceilings – Ann Arbor Ceiling & Partition Co., • HVAC – Great Lakes Mechanical, Inc., Dearborn
General Contractor – Campbell-Manix, Inc., Southfield Ypsilanti • Masonry – Leidal & Hart Masonry Contractors, Livonia
Architect – Lubin Schulz & Skocelas, Bloomfield Hills • Ceramic Tile – Boston Tile & Terrazzo Co., Detroit • Glass & Aluminum Windows – Madison Heights Glass Co.,
Interior Designer – Valerie Young Interiors, Lake Orion • Toilet Accessories – Building Accessories Co., Ferndale
West Bloomfield • Terrazzo – Michielutti Bros., Inc., Eastpointe
CHASE PLASTIC SERVICES, INC. — SUBCONTRACTORS • Metal and Glass Railing – Curtis Glass Co., Inc., Troy • Electrical – Moote Electric, Inc., Pontiac
• Aluminum Entrances – Modern Mirror & Glass Co., • Painting – Detroit Spectrum Painters, Inc., Warren • Paving – Nagle Paving Co., Novi
Roseville • Signage – Ford & Earl Associates, Inc., Troy • Plumbing – Oakland Plumbing Co., Ray Township
• Asphalt – Asphalt Specialties, Inc., Warren • Hardware – Gamalski Building Specialties, Auburn Hills
• Basement Walls – Elite Poured Walls, Holly
• Carpentry, Drywall, Ceiling – Matrix Commercial
• Carpentry, Commerce Twp.
• Carpet – SCI Flooring, Southfield
• Concrete Flatwork – Renegade Contracting, Inc.,
Lake Orion
• Corian Tops – Troy Millwork, Inc., Rochester Hills
• Doors, Frames & Hardware – Tupper Door & Hardware,
Farmington Hills
• Electrical – Hunter Electrical, Inc., Algonac
• Elevators – Otis Elevator, Farmington Hills
• Fencing – Shamrock Fence Company, Southgate
• Fire Alarm – Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.,
Plymouth Twp.
• Fire Protection – Tri-Star Fire Protection, Plymouth
• HVAC – ES/TEAC Mechanical, Livonia
• Layout & Civil Engineer – Kieft Engineering, Inc.,
Clarkston
• Masonry – Connolly Masonry, Inc., Clarkston
• Millwork – SBD Commercial Interiors, Belleville
• Painting – Technical Specialties & Applications, Pontiac
• Plumbing – Stately Plumbing Inc., Rochester Hills
• Roofing – Kril Enterprises, Inc., Brighton
• Security & Access Control – Integrated Communications
(586) 757-7100
Services, Novi
• Site Work & Utilities – S.A. Miles Excavating, Inc.,
Rochester
ADVANTAGES OF USING YOUR EVS BUYING SERVICES:
• Spiral Entry Stairs – Northern Lights Custom Fabricators,
Commerce Twp., and its subcontractor, Delmark, LTD,
✓ COST SAVINGS: (1) The best purchase or lease price for your new car
or truck (2) This service is offered to you as a benefit (3) This service is offered to
West Bloomfield
your family and friends with your referral (4) You will receive the best price for
• Stair Risers/Granite Tops – PMP Marble & Granite, Troy your used vehicle.
• Steel – B&A Steel, Chesterfield
• Structural Engineer – AR Decker & Associates, Inc., Troy
• Toilet Partitions & Accessories – Rayhaven Group,
✓ FINANCING: (1) Quick approval (2) Lowest rates available (3) Purchase or
lease plans offered through dealerships or banks (4) All dealer rebates are appli-
Southfield
cable.
• Waterproofing – D.C. Byers, Detroit
• Testing Engineer – Testing Engineers & Consultants, Troy
✓ CONVENIENCE: (1) Professional, customer & friendly service (2)
Owner’s Subcontractors: Evaluation and analysis of the vehicle that best suits your needs and your
• Audio/Visual – Sport View Technologies, Brighton pocketbook (3) No need to shop dealer showrooms or be pressured into buying
• Furniture – ISCG Workplace Design & Furnishings, or leasing without all the facts (4) Comparison shopping done for you (5) Your
Royal Oak new car or truck delivered to your home or office.
• Landscape – Lowries Landscape, Clarkston
• Phone/Data – AEGIS Concepts Inc., Clinton Twp.
• Tile Installation – J.S. Yarnall & Sons, Orion
• Wall Covering – Nancy & Randy Longstaff, Davisburg
• Windows – Bolyard Lumber, Rochester Hills
WALSH COLLEGE — JEFFERY W. BARRY CENTER

Owner: Walsh College, Troy
Construction Manager: George W. Auch Company, Pontiac
Architect of Record: Valerio Dewalt Train Associates,
Chicago
Structural Engineer: Penhale & Yates, Inc., Southfield
Mechanical/Electrical Engineer: Peter Basso Associates, Troy
Civil Engineer: Progressive AE, Grand Rapids
CONSULTANTS
• Landscape Architect – Conservation Design Forum, Inc.,
Do yourself a favor. Call your buying service today. You will be treated to
Elmhurst, IL professional, experienced, customer friendly, and no hassle service.
• Commissioning Agent – Integrated Design Solutions, Troy
• Lighting Consultant – Lighting Design Alliance, Chicago, IL
• Structural Engineer – Penhale & Yates, Inc., Southfield This program can be offered to all employees and
• Mechanical/Electrical Engineer – Peter Basso Associates, their friends and family. Do them a favor too!
Troy
• Civil Engineer – Progressive AE, Grand Rapids
• Acoustical Engineering – Shiner + Associates, Inc.,
Chicago, IL Call today: (586) 757-7100
• Rendering and Visualization – Visualized Concepts, Inc.,
EVS
Chicago, IL
WALSH COLLEGE — JEFFERY W. BARRY CENTER (Everything Very Simple) Endorsed Service Provider
Automotive Sales & Leasing

SUBCONTRACTORS
• Earthwork/Utilities – ABC Paving Company, Trenton
• Concrete Flatwork – Albanelli Cement Contractors, Inc.
Livonia

SUBCONTRACTOR LIST
ARCHITECTURAL AND SPECIALTY • Construction Supplies - Fastener’s, Inc. (supplier), Reroute - Motor City Electric, Detroit
CONSULTANT LIST PROVIDED COURTESY OF Madison Heights • Electrical Supplies - Empire Electric (supplier), Detroit
HAMILTON ANDERSON/SMITHGROUP JOINT • Crane Operators - LW Connelly Crane & Sons dba Connelly • Escalators - Thyssen Krupp Elevator Corporation, Livonia
VENTURE. SUBCONTRACTOR LIST AND OTHER Crane Rental Corp., Redford • Food Venue - Liberty Electrical Services, Inc., Detroit;
CONSULTANTS SUPPLIED COURTESY OF • Elevator Repairs - Detroit Elevator, Detroit; Elevator Micron Electrical Contracting, Inc., Detroit
MGM GRAND AND SSMITH & ASSOCIATES, Technology, Detroit • Generator Maintenance - Cummins Bridgeway,
DIVERSITY CONSULTANT. • Equipment & Maintenance - AIS Construction Equipment, New Hudson
Grand Rapids; Burke Rental, Inc., Sterling Heights; HD • Heating & Cooling - R and A Heating and Cooling, Detroit
MGM GRAND CASINO Edwards and Company (supplier), Detroit; Jeffers Crane • Hotel Room Package - Hendricks Electric, Inc., Detroit
Owner: MGM Mirage, Las Vegas, NV Service, Inc., Oregon, OH • Install Call Recording Equipment - Dictation Sales &
Construction: MGM Grand Detroit II, Las Vegas, NV • Equipment Rental - Mercers Down River Equipment Rental Service, Southfield
Project Managers: Tré Builders LLC, Las Vegas, NV dba Mercers Equip. Rental (supplier), Southgate • Install A/V Cable - ECS Kahn, LLC, Detroit
Architects of Record for Hotel & Casino; Interior • Excavation & Backfill - Detroit Building Group, Detroit • Install A/V Speakers & Head Ends - Sound Planning
Designer for Essentials (fashion retail), Accents (jewelry • Fencing - Riteway Fence Co., Sterling, Heights Communications, Redford
retail) and Casino/Hotel Back of House, Civil Engineering, • Foundation & Structure - Samuel A. Chagois & Assocs, • Installation Services - ISG Global, Inc., Detroit; Percipia
Landscape Architecture: Hamilton Anderson/SmithGroup Las Vegas, NV Networks, Inc., Gahanna, OH
Joint Venture, Detroit • Heating Systems - Jetheat, Inc., Fraser • Lighting - Fluoresco Lighting, Las Vegas, NV
Structural Engineering: John A. Martin & Associates, Inc., • Hole Drilling - American Vault & Concrete Products, • Lighting Fixture Package - Integrated Supply Management
Las Vegas, NV Hamtramck (supplier), Detroit
Mechanical Design/Build: Limbach Co., LLC, Pontiac • Install Dismantle Cranes - Forest City Erectors, • Lighting Protection System - Guardian Equipment
Electrical Design/Build, Low Voltage Designer: Motor City Twinsburg, OH Company, Novi
Electric Co., Detroit • Install Weight Scale Floor - Cech Corporation, Livonia • Low Voltage Communication - Integrated Media Tech.,
Diversity Consultant: SSmith & Associates, Southfield, MI • Installation - Precast Services, Inc., Twinsburg, OH Detroit
and Las Vegas, NV • Offsite Parking Lot - Khalil Bros. dba Corktown Properties, • Low Voltage Systems - SER Communications, Detroit
Detroit; Monier Khalil Living Trust, Livonia • Power /Generator/ Fire Alarm/ Detection for Sprinkler
ARCHITECTURAL • On Site Fueling - D & W Oil Company, Detroit System - Henderson Electric, Inc., Detroit
• Art Direction - Archivision, New Port Beach, CA • Parking Structure Architects - Paragon Structural Design, • Printing - Hernandez Blueprint Services LLC, Detroit
• Fire Protection - Design/Build - SimplexGrinnell, Phoenix, AZ • Start-Up Commissioning - PowerTech Services, Inc.,
Boca Raton, FL • Platform Staging - Patent Construction Systems, Taylor Swartz Creek
• Interior Designer for Bourbon Steak (steakhouse), • Polish Precast Panels - Great Lakes Concrete Floor • Suppliers - Acme Ladder and Supply (supplier), Oak Park;
Agua (casino lobby bar), Palette Dining Studio (buffet) and Polishing, Harper Woods Brock Tool of Detroit (supplier), Livonia; Caniff Electric
Ignite (fire pit) - SuperPotato, Tokyo, Japan • Post Tension System - KLG Corporation (supplier), Supply Co.(supplier), Hamtramck; O L Johnson Company,
• Interior Designer for Saltwater (seafood), Wolfgang Puck Centennial, OH Inc. (supplier), Detroit
Grille (mid-range), and Immerse (pool and spa) - Tonychi • Precast Concrete - National Precast, Inc., Roseville • Surveillance and Security Systems - North American Video,
and Associates, New York, NY (Inner View dba Tonychi) • Printing Services - Dunn Blue Printing Co., Detroit Inc., Brick, NJ
• Interior Designer for Hotel, Entice (hotel lobby bar), • Rebar Material - Barnes & Sweeney, Walled Lake • Tech. - LVC Technologies, Auburn Hills
Ballroom/Conference Center - Laurence Lee Associates, • Re-Steel Fabrication - The Boomer Company (supplier), • Third Street Improvements - Motor City Electric Utilities
Los Angeles, CA Detroit Company, Detroit
• Interior Designer for Vivid (night club) - Jeffery Beers • Risk Management - Williams Harper Palmer & Associates, • Third Street Lighting & Signalization - Rauhorn Electric,
International, New York, NY Detroit Macomb
• Interior Designer for Casino, U Me Drink (casino bar), Hi- • Shuttle Service - Contractors Shuttle Service, Detroit • Truck Hauling - Hayes Trucking, Novi; Hayes Washed Sand
Limit Casino designer - Cleo Design & Archivision, Las • Site Demo & Earthwork Third Street Improvements - & Gravel, Novi
Vegas, NV (Adakot, Inc. dba Archivision) Blaze Contracting, Detroit • VOIP - Analysts International, Auburn Hills
• Interior Designer for Executive Offices, Breeze (quick serve) • Steel Hardware - MBM Fabricators & Erectors, Romulus
and Video Poker Bar - Harris Design Group, Hamtramck • Suppliers - Arcomet USA (supplier) aka P & J Arcoment, EQUIPMENT
• Self Park Garage – Rich and Associates, Southfield; Manassas, VA; Detroit Wire Rope, a Mazzell Lifting • Bituminous Pavement Patching - A & R Repairs Baker’s
Paragon Structural Design, Inc., Phoenix, AZ; Technologies Co. (supplier), Detroit; Laser Hydraulic & Kneads, Inc., Warren
Designed Productions, Inc. (audio design) – Las Vegas, NV Hose dba Pirtex (supplier), Westland; Premier Business • Commission Parking Equipment - Federal APD Federal
Products (supplier), Troy Signal Corp., Novi
SPECIALTY CONSULTANTS • Temporary Elevator - Metro Elevator Company, Inc., • Control Wiring - Detroit Electrical Services, Detroit
• Lighting Design - Illuminating Concepts, Farmington Hills Indianapolis, IN • Crane for Hotel Tower & Equipment Maintenance -
• Acoustic Engineer - Chips Davis Design, Concord, CA • Caissons, Tower Crane Install - Rohrscheib Sons Caissons, Allingham Corporation, Southfield
• Surveillance Designer - M. Malia and Associates, New Hudson • Fire Suppression Systems - Gallagher Fire Equipment,
Northfield, NJ • Tower Cranes - CCK Equipment Company, Macomb Livonia
• Pool Designer - Water Technology, Inc., Beaver Dam, WI Township • Food Service Contactor - Baring Industries, a Div. of
• Vertical Transportation Designer - Technical Inspections, • Towing - Allied Towing Service, Hamtramck Electrolux Professional, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL
Inc., Columbia, NC • Towing - Joe Ballor Towing, Inc., New Haven • Food Service Equipment - J.F. Duncan Industries,
• Cladding and Waterproofing Consultant - SmithGroup, Downey, CA
Inc., Detroit CONVEYING SYSTEMS • Food Service Equipment Install - Commercial Stainless
• Food and Beverage Services Designer - JEM Associates, • Construction Drilling - United Drilling, Inc., Innovations, Inc., Turnersville, NJ
Inc., Las Vegas, NV Plumsteadville, PA • Food Service Installation - Phoenix Refrigeration, Wixom
• Signage and Environmental Graphics Designer - Eslick • Elevators - Otis Elevator, Farmington Hills • Food Service Installer - Cross Country Installers, Easton, PA
Design, Tulsa, OK • Linen Chutes - KASL Enterprises, Belleville • Inspect Installed Equipment - Bildon Parts & Service,
• Scenographic Designer - Realisation, Montreal, OC • Metal Re-finishes for Elevators - The Stone & Metal Livonia; GCS Services, Inc., St. Paul, MN
• Water Feature Designer - Commercial Aquatic Engineering, Group, LLC, Chicago, IL • Install, Inspect Alvey Equipment - Armor Metal Group
Minnetonka, MN Mason, Inc. dba Alvey Washing Equipment, Mason, OH
• Electrical Criteria Engineer - MSA Engineering, DOORS AND WINDOWS • Parking Control Equipment - Applied Bldg. Technologies,
Las Vegas, NV (Melroy Engineering, Inc. dba MSA) • Dock Levelers - Detroit Door & Hardware, Detroit
• Mechanical Criteria Engineers - JBA Consulting Engineers, Madison Heights • Refrigeration Systems - Omni Team, Inc., Downey, CA
Las Vegas, NV • Door Hardware & Operators - Great Lakes Automatic • Service Ice Machines - Papa’s Refrigeration Service, Warren
• Parking Deck Programmer (Global) - International Parking Door, Inc., Hillside, IL • Start-up for Cook Chill - Cleveland Range, Cleveland, OH
Design, Sherman Oaks, CA • Glass & Glazing - Harmon, Inc., Livonia • Supervise Hood Install, Install Flight Type Dishwasher -
• Wind Modeling and Studies - Rowan Williams Davies & • Hotel Tower Curtain Survey Wall - ABE Associates, Inc., ITW Food Equip. Group LLC dba Hobart, Troy, OH
Irwin, Guelph, ON Detroit
• Life Safety and Code Consultant – Rolf Jensen & • Window Cleaning - Royal Building Services dba Eagle FINISHES
Associates, Chicago, IL Window Cleaning, Detroit • Carpentry/ Drywall - Arait Building dba Arait Building &
• Barrier Free Consultant – Equal Access, Las Vegas, NV • Window Film Application - Specialty Protective Coatings, Engineering Co., Detroit
Inc., Troy • Carpet & Resilient Flooring - Master Craft Carpet Service,
MGM GRAND CASINO — SUBCONTRACTORS Redford
CONCRETE ELECTRICAL • Carpet & Vinyl Flooring - Conventional Carpet, Inc.,
• Concrete - Colasanti, Detroit • Assemble Jobsite Trailer - Pro Mod, Inc., Pinconning Sterling Heights
• Concrete Cutting - Cougar Sales & Rental, Inc. (supplier), • Concrete/ Excavation - Broadcast Design & Construction, • Ceramic Tile & Stone Work - Architectural S/W Stone,
Novi; FMG Concrete Cutting, Inc., Brighton; Northern Mount Clemens Livonia
Concrete Cutting, Dryden • Console & Training - Arc Solutions International, • Construction Equipment - Amerimin Systems, Novi
• Concrete Forming - Ceco Concrete Construction of Durham, NC • Drywall Material Supplier - Cinda Corporation (supplier),
Michigan, Detroit; Fastdecks, Walled Lake • Control Wiring - Detroit Electrical Services, Detroit Detroit
• Concrete Pumping - Cross Enterprises, Melvindale • Design Build Electrical, Cabling Installation & Site Utilities
• Drywall, Framing & Acoustical - US Builders Group,

Detroit
• Drywall, Framing for Tower - Turner Brooks, Madison Hts.
• Equipment & Maintenance - Hertz Equipment Rental
Corporation, Romulus
• Flooring - Master Craft Floors, Inc., Redford
• Framing & Drywall - Ann Arbor Ceiling & Partition,
Ypsilanti; JL Judge Construction, Detroit; Pontiac Drywall
Systems, Pontiac
• Installation - Master Craft Installation, Redford
• Labor - Rustin Tile & Marble, Dearborn Heights
• Measuring - Horizon Interests dba Horizon Millwork,
Livonia
• Painting - Salvatore Randazzo, Macomb; Soft Touch
Painting, Detroit
• Painting & Wallcovering - Madias Brothers, Detroit
• Painting Garages - Eugenio Painting, Grosse Pointe Woods
• Plaster Venue 10 & 12 - Debacker & Sons, Warren
• Plastering - Nass Fresco Finishes, Fox River Grove, IL
• Stone & Fabrication Install - Michigan Tile & Marble Co.,
Detroit
• Stone & Solid Surface - PMP Marble & Granite, Troy
• Supervise/Consult On-Site - Strata Design, Traverse City
• Supply Wheel Chair Lift - Lift U, Division of Hogan
(supplier), New Liberty, KY
• Tile - Southeastern Tile, Mt. Clemens
• Tile & Marble - Tile & Marble Co., Schnecksville, PA
• Tile Work - Boston Tile & Terrazzo Co., Detroit
• Venue Stone & Tile - Empire Tile & Marble, Eastpointe
• Wall Covering - Bruce Morgan Wallcovering, Brighton
• Wall Covering & Painting - Detroit Spectrum Painters,
Warren; Signature Contracting, Redford;
Midwest Pro Painting, Livonia
GENERAL CONDITIONS
• Assemble Jobsite Trailers - Pro Mod, Inc., Pinconning
• Clean Floor Mats - Cintas Corporation No. 2 dba National
Account Sales Divisions, Livonia
• Computer Support - Bind Technologies, Berkley
• Computer Support Services - Tactical Information Services,
Detroit
• Concrete Polishing - Hoover & Wells, Toledo, OH
• Copier Repair - Konica Minolta Albin, Wixom
• Demolition - Adamo Demolition, Detroit
• Drill 16 piers - Niemi Corporation, Ypsilanti
• Electrical - Stanley Access Technologies, Indianapolis, IN
• Engineer - Extreme Engineering Inc (supplier), Troy
• Equipment & Maintenance - Team Equipment (supplier),
Warren; Michigan Tractor & Machinery dba MI Cat, Novi;
Nes Rentals, Detroit; United Rentals (North America),
Detroit
• Equipment Supplier - Sprint Solutions (supplier),
Overland Park, KS
• Fence Repairs - Industrial Fence & Landscaping, Detroit
• Fencing - Rite Way Fencing Co., Sterling Heights
• Furnish Fire & Ice Wall - Lumid, Inc., Montreal, Canada
• Furnish Fire Place Equipment - Automated Fire and Water
Effects, Inc. (supplier), Las Vegas, NV
• Furnish Garage Doors - LaForce, Inc. (supplier),
Green Bay, WI
• Furnish Lion Figure - Guangzhou Zhongxiong Imp.
& Exp. Trading Co. (supplier), China
• Furnish Mosaic Tile - Canary Services (supplier),
London, UK
• General Conditions - 3.L.K. Construction, LLC, Detroit
• Heating & Cooling - R and A Heating and Cooling, Troy
• Install Carpet for Offices - AM Installation, Novi
• Jobsite Security - Crime Prevention Security, Ypsilanti
• Jobsite Security Company - Personal Protection, Inc. dba
Personal Protection, Lathrup Village
• Jobsite Trailers - McDonald Modular Solutions, Southfield
• Medical Supplies - SOS Medical (supplier), Commerce Twp.
• Office Supplies - Precise Business Supply Source (supplier),
Detroit
• On-Site Catering - Gary’s Catering, Inc., Wixom
• On-Site Fueling - Spencer Oil Company, Roseville CAM offers custom reprints
• Photography - Aerial Associates Photography, Ann Arbor
• Portable Toilets - Acee-Deucee Porta Can dba Suburban
of articles appearing in
Sewer & Septic Tank Cleaning, Carleton
• Portable Toilets - Porta John Systems, Inc., Shelby Township
• Project Management - Tre’ Builders, Las Vegas, NV Call today!
• Project Management Staff - Lakeshore Tech, Inc., Detroit
• Project Management Staffing - Kaskel Construction, Detroit
• Project Staffing/ Pool & Spa - Harvard Engineering &
(248) 972-1000
Construction Consultants, Detroit
• Propane Services - Baker’s Propane, Wauseon, OH
• Repair UR Equipment - Minuteman International,
Addison, IL

SUBCONTRACTOR LIST
• Scaffolding Set-Up & Equipment Maintenance - Safway METALS SPECIALTIES

Services (supplier), Detroit • Crane Operators - L W Connelly & Sons dba Connelly • Computer Access Floor Work - Gardiner C. Vose,
• Septic Cleaning - Greenwood Enterprises dba Jay’s Septic Crane Rental Corp., Redford Bloomfield Hills
Tank Service, Lapeer • Equipment Maintenance - Sunbelt Rentals, York County, SC • Display Boards - Murray Steel, Ecorse
• Service Copier - Alphacopy Systems, Farmington Hills • Erector Services - General Steel Erectors, Sterling Heights • Equipment Maintenance/ Crane for Hotel Tower -
• Street Sweeping - Inland Waters Pollution Control, Inc., • Fabrication - Cives Corporation dba Cives Steel Company, Allingham Corporation, Southfield
Brownstown Roswell, GA • Exterior Signage and Graphics - Gardner Signs, Troy
• Supplier - Navigating Business Space (supplier), Rochester • Field Measuring/ Layout - Field Measurements, • Guest Garage Traffic Signs - PLSC Sign Contractors,
• Tire Repair - Cox & Winfree Tire, Madison Heights Clinton Township Southfield
• Waste & Recycling - Allied Waste Services dba Dinverno, • Food Catering - Omar’s Mexican Restaurant dba • Installer - Progressive Installers, Saginaw
Detroit; Americal, Detroit; Capital Waste, Detroit Armando’s Mexican Restaurant, Detroit • Post Hole Drilling - Vena’s Nursery, Belleville
• Water - Absopure Water Company (supplier), Plymouth • Furnish & Erection - City Steel, Inc., Waterford • Signage - Harmon Signs, Inc. dba Planet Neon, Novi;
• Install Ornamental Steel - Assemblers Precast & Steel Splashworks, Inc., Birmingham
MASONRY Services, Pinckney • Toilet & Misc Specialties - International Bldg. Products,
• Masonry - Dixon Masonry, Detroit • Installation - Sova Group, Detroit Livonia
• Metal Fabrication/Wall Panels & Louvers - C.L. Reickhoff • Toilet Partitions & Lockers - Rayhaven Group, Southfield
MECHANICAL Co., Taylor • Wire Mesh & Chain Link Fence - Future Fence, Warren
• A/C Equipment/ Maintenance - Curbs & Damper • Misc. Steel - Dumas Concepts in Building, Northville
Products, Roseville; Potter Claiborn Geelhood dba • On-Site Fueling - Chapp & Bushey Oil Co., New Boston THERMAL AND LIST RENTALS
Computer Support Technology, Troy • Scaffolding Set-Up - Safeworks LLC dba Spider, Romulus • Applied Fireproofing - William Reichenbach Co., Lansing
• A/C Install, Chillers & Air Handling Units- American • Touch–Up Painting - Detroit Industrial Services, Detroit • Lift Rentals - Aero Lift, Livonia
Standard, Inc. dba Trane, Warren • Trucking - Van Dam Iron Works, Inc., Grand Rapids • Propane - Propane Services, Taylor
• ATC Wiring - Corporate Electric, Bruce Township • Structural Steel, Welding for Buck Hoist - Midwest Steel, • Roofing - Fred Christen & Sons Co., Detroit
• Boiler Room Equipment & Testing - D.J. Conley Detroit • Waste & Recycling - Americal, Detroit
Associates, Inc., Troy
• Casino Piping - Hale Contracting, Inc., Detroit SITEWORK WOOD AND PLASTICS
• Casino Plumbing - Bruner Plumbing & Heating Co., Detroit • Asbestos - D2 Abatement, Detroit • Buffet Pool Spa Millwork - Mueller Custom Cabinetry, Inc.,
• Chemical Testing - HV Burton Company, Livonia • Asphalt Paving - Doan Construction Company, Ypsilanti; Pacoima, CA
• Chemical Treatment - Bennett, Holland, Kovac & Nagle Paving Company, Novi • Drywall, Framing & Acoustical - Denn-Co Construction,
Associates, Dearborn; PoolPak International, York, PA • Bituminous Pavement Patching - A & R Sealcoating, Shelby Township
• Concrete Drilling - Detroit Diamond Drilling, Detroit Waterford • Fabric Stretch Panel System - Invirons, Mt. Clemens
• Cooling Towers - Baltimore Aircoil Company, Jessup, MD • Catering Company - Original Romano’s #5 dba Original • Finish Carpentry - Kulbacki, Inc., Clinton Township
• Cranes - Laramie Enterprises dba Gordon F. Laramie Romano’s Catering, Orchard Lake • Finish Carpentry - Sather Installation, Inc., Modeso, CA
& Sons, Detroit • Clean Drain Structures - Doetsch Industrial Services, Inc., • Custom Architectural Millwork, Install Fabric Wrapped
• Electrical - Innovated Energy Controls, Hartland Warren Panels - Trend Millwork, Lincoln Park
• Engineering - Limbach Facility Services dba Mechanical • Concrete Cutting - Cougar Contracting, Inc., Wixom • Stone/Tile, Labor - Wolverine Stone, Warren
Professional Services, Plymouth • Concrete Encasements - Timmer Construction Company, • Labor & Materials - Madeira Woodworking Co, Troy
• Engineering & Design - JRED Engineering, Farmington Hills • Millwork & Carpentry - Foster Finish Carpentry, Inc.,
Dearborn Heights • Core Drilling - Detroit Diamond Drilling, Detroit Detroit
• Equipment - SBC Global Services, Inc. • Equipment & Maintenance - MCM Management • Millwork for Food Venues - Quality Cabinet & Fixture,
• Equipment & Maintenance - OEMC LLC, Livonia Corporation, West Bloomfield San Diego, CA
• Fire Protection Install - Atlas Fire Technology, LLC, Detroit • Granite Pavers - Soulliere Decorative Stone, Inc., Utica • Millwork for Hotel High Limit - Glenn Rieder,
• Fuel - Atlas Oil Company (supplier), Taylor • Install Flagpoles - Rocket Enterprises, Inc., Warren Milwaukee, WI
• Hotel Piping - Klearview Mechanical Systems, Detroit • Install Precast Concrete - Advance Concrete Products, • Millwork for Hotel Tower - Precision Industrial Services,
• Hotel Plumbing - E L Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc., Detroit Highland Detroit
• HVAC Steel - Duct Connection & Sheet Metal Supply • Joint & Crack Sealant - JMA Contracting, LLC, • Venue Glass & Glazing - Madison Heights Glass, Ferndale
Company (supplier), Warren St. Clair Shores
• In-House Calibrating - American Electrical Contractor, Inc., • Labor - Willie McCormick & Associates, Detroit OTHER CONSULTANTS
Hamtramck • Landscaping Irrigation - W. H. Canon, Romulus • Charette Meeting - Flashlight, San Diego, CA
• Install Phones for Trailers - Telephone Support Systems, • Lawn Irrigation - Marc Dutton Irrigation, Waterford • Forensic Accounting Service - Neil Kugel, CPA,
Farmington Hills • Layout Engineering Services - Metco Services, Inc., Detroit Northridge, CA
• Installation & Materials - Dimer ISG, Utica • Live Tap of Water Main – Watertap, Inc., South Lyon • Geotechnical & Environmental - Enviro Matrix, Detroit
• Lift/Rigging Services - Lifting Gear Hire Corporation, • Mechanical - JF Cavanaugh Co., Farmington Hills • Mechanical - Pacific Mechanical Construction Mgmt.,
Bridgeview, IL • Mechanical Installation - Detroit Boiler Company, Detroit Baldwin Park, CA
• Machine Vibration Testing - Stack Balance Engineering, • Parking Controls Equipment - Angle Striping, Canton • On-Site EMS - Universal Macomb Ambulance,
Farmington Hills • Pavement Marking - PK Contracting, Troy Sterling Heights
• Make-Up Air Start Up - Michigan Air Products, Troy • Pipe Install - North West Trading (supplier), Detroit • Parking Structure - Resources Applications, Designs
• Masonry Pheroscanning - Muirhead Construction, Inc., Milford • Pump Install - Mersino Dewatering, Davison & Controls, Long Beach, CA
• Mobile Trailer - American Mobile Office & Containers, Warren • Recycling Services - USA Lamp and Ballast Recycling, • Risk Management - Lewis & Thompson, Phoenix, AZ
• Pipe Freeze - Dihydro Services, Inc., Sterling Heights Cincinnati, OH • Surveying - Giffels-Webster, Detroit
• Pipe Installation - Master Mechanical Insulation, Inc., Troy • Re-Steel Installation - City Re-Steel, Inc., Wayne • Testing - Applied Research Labs, Miami, FL;
• Plumbing - Guideline Mechanical, Clinton Township • Road Patch Encasement - Superior Materials, Inc., Testing Engineers & Consultants, Troy
• Plumbing & Mechanical - Limbach, Auburn Hills Farmington Hills • Traffic Engineers - Linscott, Law & Greenspan,
• Plumbing Piping Consultant - Colombo Sales, Ferndale • Site Concrete - Ferrini Contracting Corporation, Detroit Pasadena, CA
• Plumbing Powerhouse - R L Deppmann Co., Southfield • Site Utilities - Site Development, Inc., Madison Heights • VOIP Systems - AMI Strategies, Livonia
• Refill Fire Extinguishers - Eastman Fire Protection, Troy • Steel Erection - Titus Welding Company, Farmington Hills • Test Dimming/Control Equipment – Electronic Theater
• Refrigerate Monitoring System - Cochrane Supply & • Street Sweeping - Armadillo Services, Birmingham Controls, Middleton, WI
Engineering, Inc., Madison Heights • Supplier - State Barricades (supplier), Warren
• Set Up & Testing - Underwood Fire Equipment, Novi • Truck Hauling - Hayball Transport, Livonia; 735 FOREST
• Sheet Metal - Motor City Ventilation, Inc., Detroit ROC Transport, Coppell, TX; Summit Transport, Brighton; Owners – Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly, Inc., Birmingham,
• Start-Up Testing - Allied General Mechanical, LLC, Detroit; Superior Demolition Company, Detroit Templeton Building, Rochester Hills, and MJT Development,
Thermal-Netics, Inc., Auburn Hills; Fife Pearce Electric • Trucking/ Demolition - Farrow Group, Detroit Birmingham
Company, Detroit Construction Managers – Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly,
• Supervise Install of Equipment - American Mechanical SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION Inc., Birmingham and Templeton Building, Rochester Hills
Insulation Sales, Inc., Farmington Hills • Engineering - Commercial Aquatic Engineering, Architect – Victor Saroki & Associates Architects, PC,
• Supplier - OL Johnson Company, Inc. (supplier), Detroit Minnetonka, MN Birmingham
• Suppression Systems - Simplex Grinnell, Farmington Hills • Concrete Pumping - Cross Enterprises, Melvindale Engineer – MA Engineering, Bingham Farms
• Temp. Heating & Cooling – Nutemp, Inc., Bridgeview, IL • Concrete Supplier - Michigan Foundation Company, Detroit Engineering and Surveying – L & A Associates, Farmington
• Terminal Service Work - Fontanesi & Kann Co., Oak Park • Construction Equipment - Mirage Properties, LLC dba Hills
• Test Air Conditioning Systems - International Test & ConVey of Flint, Flint
Balance, Inc., Des Plaines, IL • Fuel/ Concrete - Koenig Fuel & Supply Co. dba Koenig 735 FOREST — SUBCONTRACTORS
• Test Cooling Water - Sarmento Mechanical Sales, Inc., Concrete, Jefferson, WI • Alarm System – Vigilante Security, Southfield
Farmington Hills • Pool & Jacuzzi Consultant - John Robertson dba Robertson • Appliances – Specialties Showroom, Berkley
• Towing - Boulevard & Trumbell Towing, Detroit Pools & Service, Walled Lake • Architectural Woodwork – Zuckero & Sons,
• Water Treatment Services - H-O-H Chemicals, Inc., Walled Lk. Clinton Township
• Welding - Baker’s Gas & Welding, Lincoln Park • Bamboo Doors – Dillman & Upton, Rochester
SUBCONTRACTOR LIST
• Built in Cabinetry and Panel Installation – Nielsen Quality • Site Clean-up – Take Away Trash Services, Pontiac • Trim Carpentry – Ebano Trim, Shelby Township
Construction, Fenton • Steel – Smede Son, Redford • Trim Carpentry – Lumberline, Waterford
• Cabinetry – Canac Cabinetry, Clawson • Structural Metal Framing and Steel Joists – Architectural • Trim Carpentry – The Wellman Company, Livonia
• Carpet – Burns Floorcovering, Troy Iron Works, LLC, Detroit • Trim Materials – American Heritage Woods, Farmington
• Computer/Phone Networking – Key Information • Tile – Beaver Tile, Farmington Hills Hills
Technologies, Waterford • Tile – Canvasback Tile & Marble, Inc., Dryden • Veneer Masonry Systems – Brick Tech Architectural, Berkley
• Concrete – Popelier Construction Co., Inc., Lake Orion • Tile – Gabriel Granite, Oakland • Wall Paneling System – Daiek Woodworks, Sterling Heights
• Concrete Materials – Ersco, Detroit • Tile – Virginia Tile, Farmington Hills • Waterproofing and Membrane Roofing – Water-Tite Co.,
• Countertops – Marble & Granite Works, Inc., • Trash Chute – Kasl Enterprises, Inc., Belleville Wixom
Shelby Township • Trees – Bill’s Tree, Milford • Windows, Doors, Entrances and Storefronts – O.L. Bolyard
• Drywall – Burgess Bros., Clarkston • Trim Carpentry – Custom Designed Woodward, Clarkston Lumber Co., Rochester Hills
• Earthwork – Pacitto & Forest Construction, Co., Wixom
• Earthwork and Concrete Paving – Wisneski Grading, LLC,
Sterling Heights
• EIFS – Stefani Finish, Inc., Clarkston
• Electrical – Great Lakes Electric, Auburn Hills
• Electrical – Meadowbrook Electric, Inc., Rochester Hills
• Electrical – Russell Electric, West Bloomfield
• Electrical – Saturn Electric, Rochester
• Elevators – Schindler Elevator Corporation, Livonia
• Fencing – Contractors Fence & Gate Service, Redford
• Fire Caulking – Standard Drywall, Utica
• Fire Extinguishers, Cabinets and Toilet Partitions –
Rayhaven Group, Southfield
• Fire Protection – Flow Fire Protection, Milford
• Flooring Installation – Thompson Marble and Tile, Milford
• Flooring Supplier – Genesee Cut Stone & Marble Co., Flint
• General Conditions – Great Lakes Construction Services,
Inc., Royal Oak
• Granite/Marble Countertops (for Bistro) – USA Stone,
Oxford
• Hardware and Hollow Metal Doors – Russell Hardware
Company, Bloomfield Hills
TM
• Hardwood Flooring – Birmingham Hardwood Imports,
Birmingham
• Hardwood Flooring – Johnson Yarema Hardwood Floors,
Troy
• Hardwood Supplier – Michigan Hardwood Distribution,
Wixom
• Hoods (for Bistro) – Premium Air Systems, Troy
• HVAC – Diamond Air Heating & Cooling, Inc., Chesterfield
• Insulation – Metal Arts Construction, Mount Pleasant
• Iron Gates – East Jordon, Oak Park Plunkett Cooney has been part of
• Insulation – Victory Insulation, St. Clair Shores
• Joint Sealants – National Exteriors, Auburn Hills Michigan’s construction industry
• Laminate Countertops (for Bistro) – Ultima, Macomb
Township
since 1913. Clients tell us they
• LEED Consultant – Newman Consulting Group, LLC, appreciate our fearless determination
Bloomfield Hills
• Lighting – Gasser Bush, Livonia to obtain the right result from the
• Lighting Fixtures – Lumecon Relume, Farmington Hills
• Limestone Countertops (for Bistro) – Ciot, Troy boardroom to the courtroom.
• Low Voltage – Avio, Inc., Troy
• Masonry – Madison Masonry, Madison Heights
• Masonry – Metropolitan Stone, Carleton
• Masonry Accessories – Mason Pro, Northville
A leading advisor to developers, design
• Membrane Roofing – Allen Brothers Roofing, Inc., professionals and contractors, Plunkett
Rochester Hills
• Metal Studding, Rough Carpentry and Drywall – Dun-Rite Cooney can provide legal counsel to
Drywall, Shelby Township
• Miscellaneous Materials – Burke Building Centers, assist you in achieving your business
Waterford
• Miscellaneous Materials – Custom Builder’s Supply,
goals.
Birmingham
• Miscellaneous Materials – Neighborhood Hardware,
Birmingham
• Miscellaneous Materials – Ryan Building Supply, Southfield
• Miscellaneous Materials – Stock Building Supply, Troy
• Office Furniture – A Notch Above, Inc., Oak Park
• Ornamental Metal, Entrances and Special Windows –
Ann Arbor Glass & Metal, Troy
• Paint Supplies – Technical Specialties, Pontiac
• Painting – Camovic Rainbow Painting – Sterling Heights
• Painting – Whale Painting, Shelby Township SCOTT H. SIRICH
• Parking Blocks – Ideal Shield, Detroit
• Pavers – Mosher & Associates, Clarkston Construction Law Practice Group Leader
• Plumbing and Plumbing Fixtures – Singel Plumbing Co.,
Rochester
(248) 594-8228 • ssirich@plunkettcooney.com
• Precast Concrete – Kerkstra Precast, Jenison
• Precast Concrete and Foundations – Tru Wall Construction
Company, Wixom
• Railings and Handrails – BlackJack Iron Works, Detroit
• Railings and Handrails – Patio Rooms,
Commerce Township
• Rough Carpentry – Danna Carpentry Contractors, Inc.,
Harrison Township
• Rough Carpentry – Lumberline, Waterford

SUBCONTRACTOR LIST
ABU DHABI NATIONAL ENEGRY COMPANY — • Asphalt Paving – ABC Paving Co., Trenton • Ceramic Floor Coating – Valley Painting, Inc., Flint
TAQA TENANT FIT-OUT • Audio/Video Systems – TEL Systems, Ann Arbor • Ceramic, Quarry and Granite Products – United Tile &
Owners – TAQA, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and • Built-up Roofing – Schreiber Corp., Detroit Stone Works, Sterling Heights
Domino’s Farms Office Park, Ann Arbor • Carpentry – Wally Kosorski, Clinton Twp. • Davit System – Pro-Bel, Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Construction Manager – DeMattia Group, Plymouth • Casework & Custom Casework – Dew-El Corp., Holland • Electrical and Fire Alarm – Center Line Electric, Inc.,
Architect and Engineer – Hobbs + Black, Ann Arbor • Coiling Doors, HM Frames, Hardware and Wood Doors – Center Line
Detroit Door & Hardware, Madison Heights • Elevators – Otis Elevator Company, Farmington Hills
ABU DHABI NATIONAL ENEGRY COMPANY — • Electrical – McNulty Electric, Lexington • Fire Protection – Dynamic Fire Protection, Inc., Newport
TAQA TENANT FIT-OUT — SUBCONTRACTORS • Exterior Site Sign – J.L. Geisler Corp., Warren • Flagpole – American Flag & Banner Company, Inc.,
• Acoustical Panels – Integrated Interiors, Inc., Warren • Fencing – Reliable Fence, Clinton Twp. Clawson
• Carpentry and Millwork – Wally Kosorski & Co. Inc., • Fire Protection – Detroit Automatic Sprinkler, Warren • Foundation – Poured Brick Walls, Brighton
Clinton Township • Flagpoles – Delta Construction Associates Inc., Fort Gratiot • Glass and Glazing – Curtis Glass Co., Inc., Troy
• Demolition – DKI, Inc., West Bloomfield • Foundations – Authority Group Concrete Inc., Walled Lake • Hollow Metal Doors, Frames and Hardware – RK Hoppe
• Doors and Hardware – Stafford Building Products, • Geothermal System – LoopMaster International, Inc., Corp., New Hudson
Waterville, OH Indianapolis, Indiana • HVAC – TF Barry, Plymouth
• Drywall – Precision Interiors, Manchester • HVAC – Macomb Mechanical, Sterling Heights • Interior Concrete, Site Concrete, Curbing – Albanelli
• Electrical – Charge Electric Co., Inc., Ann Arbor • Horizontal Accordion Fire Door – Won Door Corp., Cement Contractors, Livonia
• Fire Extinguishers – Architectural Building Components, Salt Lake City, UT • Landscape and Retaining Walls – Yanke’s Design, Novi
Oak Park • Hydraulic Elevator – Schindler Elevator Corp., Livonia • Landscaping – Executive Landscaping, Northville
• Fixtures – Expressions in Hardware, Ann Arbor • Landscaping, Brick Pavers & Irrigation – Precision • Low Voltage Data and Accoustics – Center Line
• Fixtures (Bathroom) – DeGiuilo Kitchen & Bath, Landscaping, Caso Twp. Technologies, Inc., Center Line
Birmingham • Masonry – Brazen & Greer, Livonia • Masonry – Leidal & Hart Mason Contractors, Livonia
• Flooring – Decorative Flooring Services – Maumee, OH • Metal Roof and Wall Panels, Column Covers – Roofcon, • Material Testing – G2 Consulting Group, LLC, Troy
• Furniture and Accessories – Incite Design, LLC, Tecumseh Brighton • Office Furniture – Interior Environment, Southfield
• Glass and Aluminum – Harmon, Inc., Livonia • Metal Stairs & Misc. Steel – Davis Iron Works, Inc., • Office Furniture – Resource Office Interiors,
• IT Wiring – Current Electric, Chelsea Walled Lake Farmington Hills
• Painting – Cavalier Painting Co., Sterling Heights • Metal Stud, Drywall, Acoustical Ceiling & DEFS – • Overhead Doors, Dock Equipment and Accordion
• Plumbing and HVAC – Boone & Darr, Inc., Ann Arbor ANM Construction, New Hudson Partitions – Gardiner Vose, Bloomfield Hills
• Soundproofing – Stony Creek Services, Inc., Ypsilanti • Operable Partitions – Urban’s Partition & Remodeling, • Painting – Detroit Spectrum Painters, Inc., Warren
• Soundproofing – Interlam, Claudeville, VA Northville • Plumbing – Brentwood Plumbing & Mechanical Inc.,
• Special Finishes – Panelite, LLC, Culver City, CA • Painting – Seven Brothers Painting, Shelby Twp. Chesterfield Township
• Structural Steel – Raven Iron Works, Inc., Livonia • Playground Equipment – Michigan Playgrounds, LLC, • Precast Concrete – National Precast, Inc., Roseville
• Window Treatments – Creative Windows, Ann Arbor Holland • Roofing and Metal Wall Panels – Lutz Roofing Co., Inc.,
• Plumbing – Oakland Plumbing Company, Ray Twp. Utica
• Preassembled Doors – Total Door, Pontiac • Security – E O Integrated Systems, Inc., Washington
WESTVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • Visual Display Boards & Cases – Cig Jan Product Ltd., • Signage – SignGraphix, Inc., Farmington Hills
Owner – Fitzgerald Public School District, Warren Caledonia • Site Fencing – Future Fence Company, Warren
Construction Manager – Skanska USA Building Inc., • Precast Terrazzo Floor Tile – Boston Tile & Terrazzo • Sitework, Clearing/Grubbing, Site Utilities, Stone –
Southfield Company, Detroit MWB Contracting, Clarkston
Architect – Partners in Architecture, PLC, Mt. Clemens • Projection Screens – International Building Products, • Spray-on Fireproofing – William E. Harnish Acoustical, Inc.,
Engineers – MA Engineering, Bingham Farms (MEP); Giffels Livonia Redford
Webster Engineers, Rochester Hills (civil); Desai Nasr, West • Resilient Flooring, Linoleum & Carpet – Shock Brothers • Structural Steel – Utica Steel, Inc., Chesterfield
Bloomfield (structural). Floor Covering, Roseville • Toilet Partitions – RE Leggette Company, Dearborn
• Roller Shades – The Sheer Shop, Shelby Twp. • Waterproofing and Joint Sealants – Chezcore, Inc., Detroit
WESTVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL — SUBCONTRACTORS • Selective Salvage & Demolition – Able Demolition,
• Aluminum Framing and Glazing – Madison Heights Glass, Shelby Twp.
Ferndale • Signage, Building – The Supersine Co., Detroit. DETROIT INSTITUE OF ARTS MASTER PLAN
• Site Concrete – Peter A. Basile Sons, Livonia IMPLENTATION AND RENOVATIONS
• Site Work & Utilities – Sunset Excavating, Livonia Owner: Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit
• Specialties, Toilet Partitions and Accessories – Ann Arbor Construction Manager: Walbridge Aldinger
Reprints
Commercial Construction, Ann Arbor Company/Jenkins Construction, Inc., Detroit, Joint Venture
• Stage Curtain – North Coast Studios, Clinton Twp. Architect and Engineer of Record: SmithGroup
• Structural & Miscellaneous Steel – Cadillac Iron, Oxford Incorporated, Detroit
• Technology Infrastructure – Hatzel and Buehler, Livonia Design Architect and Master Planner: Michael Graves &
• Testing – NTH Consultants, Ltd., Farmington Hills Associates, Princeton, New Jersey
• Testing & Balancing – Enviro-Aire, Inc., St. Clair Shores
are
SMITHGROUP CONSULTANT LIST
• Acoustical Engineering – Cerami and Associates,
ITCTRANSMISSION New York, NY
Available
Owner – ITC Holdings Corporation, Novi • Civil Engineering, Building Verification Study –
Construction Manager – Cunningham-Limp, Hamilton Anderson Associates, Detroit
Farmington Hills • Building Code Investigation – Lovett Consultants,
Architect – Gillett Associates, Inc., Farmington Hills Mint Hill, NC
Acoustical Engineer – Kolano and Saha Engineers, Inc., • Rackham Planning, Site Field Representation –
Waterford Mark English Associates, Detroit
Civil Engineer, Landscape Architect, Surveying and • Scale Model Testing – RWDI, Guelph, Ontario
Stormwater Designer – Professional Engineering • Vibration Control Study – SME, Plymouth
CAM Magazine offers Associates, Inc., Troy • Cost Estimation – SmithGroup Management Services,
a variety of custom Foodservice Designer – Stephens-Bangs Associates, Inc., Detroit
Livonia • Pier Engineering – Somat Engineering, Detroit
reprints of available Interior Designer – Interior Image, Inc., Farmington Hills • Hardware Specifications – Stepanian Hardware
articles that Mechanical and Electrical Engineer – MA Engineering, • Food Services Consultant – Stephens-Bangs Associates,
Bingham Farms Southfield
appear in our
Owner’s Representative – Grubb and Ellis, Southfield • Stone Quarry Consultant – Swenson Stone Consultants,
monthly magazine. Security Consultant – Kroll, Chicago, IL Ltd., Hanover, NH
Structural Engineer – Westfall Structural Engineering, • Elevator Specifications – Technical Inspection, Inc.,
Ann Arbor Columbia, MD
These reprints make great • Fire Suppression Consultant – TVA Fire Security Life,
promotional pieces, such as trade ITCTRANSMISSION — SUBCONTRACTORS Atlanta, GA
• Acoustical Wall Panels – Division 9 Products, Inc.,
show posters and brochures, and can Farmington Hills MICHAEL GRAVES & ASSOCIATES CONSULTANT LIST
be customized to fit your needs. • Asphalt Paving – Asphalt Specialists, Inc., Pontiac • Signage - Calori & Vanden-Eynden, New York, NY
• Audio Visual – Immersion Graphics, Commerce • Illumination Design – Fisher Marantz Stone, New York, NY
• Buck Hoist – Metro Elevator, Indianapolis, IN
For more information contact CAM • Cabinets and Millwork – GI Millworks, Plymouth WALBRIDGE/JENKINS LIST OF MAJOR SUBCONTRACTORS
Magazine at (248) 972-1000. • Carpentry – Conquest Construction Company, Inc., Livonia • Air Handlers – Griffin International, LLC-Chlor (JV),
• Carpet, VCT and Base – Interior Image, Farmington Hills Ventrol Air Handling Systems, Chesterfield
• Concrete – Devon Industrial Group, LLC, Detroit

• Controls – Johnson Controls, Inc., Auburn Hills; Siemens,
Plymouth
• Cooling Towers – Baltimore Aircoil Co., Hudson, OH
• Demolition – 21st Century Salvage, Inc., Ypsilanti; Adamo
Demolition Co., Detroit
• Drywall/Ceilings – Taylor Metal Carpentry, Inc., Taylor
• Elevators – City Elevator, Inc., Detroit; Detroit Elevator Co.,
Ferndale
• Electrical – Edgewood Electric, Inc, Madison Heights;
Motor City Electric Co., Detroit; Post Electric Co., Detroit;
James G. Spaulding Electrical Contractors, Detroit
• Exterior Marble – Booms Stone Co., Redford
• Fire Protection – Wolverine Fire Protection Co., Mt. Morris
• Glass & Glazing – Curtis Glass Co., Inc., Troy; Exterior Wall
Specialties, Northville
• HVAC Work – Temperature Engineering Corp.,
Sterling Heights
• Interior Finishes – Jimenez Construction, Detroit
• Interior Marble – Cleveland Marble & Mosiac,
Cleveland, OH
• Kitchen Equipment – Gold Star Products, Oak Park;
Great Lakes Hotel Supply Co., Detroit
• Marble/Stone – Wolverine Stone Co., Warren
• Masonry – Dixon, Inc., Detroit
• Mechanical – Limbach Company, Pontiac; O’Hara
Corporation, Mt. Clemens; Pipe Systems, Inc., Troy
• Miscellaneous Iron, Metal Hand Rails – Couturier Iron
Craft, Inc., Comstock Park
• Office Partition & Furniture – NBS, El Paso, Texas
• Outside Façade Panels – Kreysler & Associates, American
Canyon, CA
• Painting – Eugenio Painting Co., Grosse Pointe Woods
• Plastic, Drywall, Carpentry – Brinker Team Construction
Co., Detroit
• Roofing – Schreiber Corporation, Detroit
• Sheet Metal – Allied Ventilation, Inc., Warren
• Specialty Metal Work – Venus Bronze Works, Inc., Detroit
Stone Pavers, Outside Tile Pavers – Soulliere Decorative
Stone, Utica
• Structural Steel – MBM Fabricators Co., Inc., Romulus
• Supplied Farnsworth Lobby Casework, Numerous Sketch
Face Veneer Flush Doors, Provided Folding Partition Units
for Urban’s Partition & Remodeling Co., Northville - Daiek
Woodworks, Sterling Heights
• Surveying/Layout – Giffels-Webster Engineers, Inc., Detroit
• Tile Work – Michigan Tile and Marble Co., Detroit; • Membership and General
Michielutti Brothers, Inc., Eastpointe
• Waterproofing & Vapor Barrier – Western Waterproofing
Information about CAM
Co., Livonia
• Wood Flooring – City Carpet and Flooring, Detroit • 2008 Construction
Buyers Guide
• Labor Relations Services
• Construction Federal
Credit Union
• CAM Administrative
Services and CAM Comp
• Construction Events
Calendar
• News Publications
Including Construction
Project News, CAM
• Programs and Services Magazine, Planroom and
Including Member Electronic Project News,
Discount Programs Construction Preview
and Services and Much More!

ADVERTISERS INDEX
AWI Great Lakes Chapter ........................................................22 Hunter Electric............................................................................60

Ace Cutting Equipment & Supply......................................116 IBEW Local 252 ..........................................................................63
Acme Maintenance Service ................................................111 Jackson Park Agency................................................................74
Advance Concrete Products Co. ..........................................48 Jeffers Crane Service ................................................................34
Aluminum Supply Company - Marshall Sales ..................75 JetHeat, Inc. ..............................................................................137
Amalio Corporation................................................................132 Kem-Tec ....................................................................................141
American Carpet Care ..........................................................128 Klochko Equipment Rental Company ................................89
American Fireplace & Barbeque Dist. ................................31 LPL Financial ..............................................................................27
Ann Arbor Ceiling & Partition Co., Inc.................................73 Laramie Crane ..........................................................................23
Aoun & Company, P.C. ..............................................................60 Lifting Gear Hire Corporation................................................35
Auch Company, The ..................................................................71 Limbach ......................................................................................83
Bobcat of Motor City ................................................................65 Madison Heights Glass ............................................................73
Booms Stone Co. ....................................................................125 MasonPro, Inc. ............................................................................13
Boone & Darr, Inc.....................................................................102 McAlpine & Associates, P.C. ......................................................8
Brentwood Plumbing and Mechanical ............................121 McCoig Companies ................................................................IBC
Bristol Steel & Conveyor Corp. ..............................................15 Metro Detroit Signs ..................................................................29
Broadcast Design & Construction, Inc. ............................131 Michigan Propane Gas Association ..............................50, 51
Brunt Associates, Inc.................................................................20 Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters ........................55
CAM Administrative Services ..................................................3 Michigan Surveyors Supply ..................................................79
CAM - Affinity ..........................................................................103 Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly, Inc. ....................................93
CAM Comp ................................................................................134 NCDS (National Center for Dispute Settlement) ............70
CAM - ECPN ................................................................................97 National Construction Rentals ..............................................38
CAM - EXPO ................................................................................77 National Ladder & Scaffold Co. ............................................12
C.A.S.S. ......................................................................................95 Navigant Consulting ................................................................14
C.F.C.U. ......................................................................................49 Next Generation Services Group ......................................129
Cannon Electric Co. ..................................................................17 Nicholson Construction ........................................................137
Cipriano Coating Technology................................................52 North American Dismantling ..............................................43
Clark Hill PLC ..............................................................................19 Oakland Community College ................................................43
Colombo Sales & Engineering, Inc. ......................................88 Oakland Companies ................................................................39
Conley Associates, Inc., D.J. ....................................................96 Oakland Metal Sales, Inc. ........................................................87
E R
Connelly Crane Rental ..........................................................102 Operating Engineers Local 324 ..............................................7
A N G
Connolly Masonry ....................................................................63 Osborne Trucking & Osborne Concrete, John D. ............53
D
Cummins Bridgeway ................................................................14 PMP Marble & Granite..............................................................58
Curran Crane Co., J.J. ..............................................................130 Partners in Architecture, PLC ..............................................111
Curtis Glass Company, Inc. ..................................................128 Plante & Moran, PLLC ..............................................................28 Fa
D&R Earthmoving, LLC ..........................................................117 Plunkett Cooney......................................................................143
DESAI/NASR ..............................................................................94 Premier Electronics, Inc. ........................................................130
Daiek Woodworks ..................................................................133 Professional Concepts Insurance Agency, Inc. ................64
Danboise Mechanical ............................................................134 Providence Steel & Supply Inc. ..........................................121
DeBacker & Sons Inc.................................................................64 Rich Osterman Electric Co., Inc. ............................................36
Detroit Carpentry JATC............................................................45 Rick's Portables Sanitation LLC. ............................................21
Detroit Roofing Inspection Service, Inc. ............................54 Roofing Technology Associates, LTD ................................117
Detroit Spectrum Painters......................................................70 SMRCA ....................................................................................112
Detroit Terrazzo Contractors Association ......................113 SANI-VAC Services, Inc...........................................................126
HIGH
DiHydro Services ......................................................................66 Scaffolding Inc. ..........................................................................38
Doeren Mayhew ........................................................................23 Sellers Pontiac ..........................................................................IFC
Dunn Blue Repographics ........................................................36 Spartan Specialties ..................................................................76
Duross Painting Company ..................................................113 State Building Products ........................................................145
Edgewood Electric, Inc. ........................................................127 Sullivan, Ward, Asher & Patton, P.C.....................................126
EXPOSURE
Edwards Glass ............................................................................52 Sunset Excavating ....................................................................54
Executive Vehicle Sales, Inc..................................................139 Superior Materials Holdings, LLC ......................................109
Ferndale Electric........................................................................BC TES Consultants, PC ..................................................................30
Fishbeck Thompson Carr & Huber, Inc. ..............................62 Transworld Systems..................................................................40
Frames, Doors & Hardware, Inc. ..........................................105 Trend Millwork, LLC ....................................................................9
G2 Consulting Group ..............................................................16 Unique Metal Products, Inc. ..................................................16
When You Glass and Mirror Craft ..............................................................84 Universal Glass & Metals, Inc. ................................................30
Glazing Contractors Association ..........................................37 Valenti Trobec Chandler, Inc. ....................................................5
Advertise In Great Lakes Ceramic Tile Association ................................66 Wade Trim ..................................................................................21
CAM Magazine! Great Lakes Fabricators & Erectors Association ............119

Gutherie Lumber Company ..................................................18
Wally Kosorski & Co., Inc. ......................................................101
Wayne Bolt & Nut Co. ..............................................................42
Gwyer Reprographics ............................................................146 Wolverine Power Systems ......................................................67
(248) 969-2171 Hansen Marketing Services, Inc. ..........................................61

Harmon, Inc...............................................................................101
Woods Construction Inc. ........................................................74
W. W. Williams..............................................................................59
Fax (248) 969-2338 Hartland Insurance Group......................................................85

Hertz Equipment Rental..........................................................41
Xpert Technologies ..................................................................27
Zervos Group ..............................................................................42
Hilti Inc. ......................................................................................26
SUBCONTRACTOR LIST
A Great Mix of
Personnel & Technology
l READY-MIX
READY
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ferndale electric_1207cam2 12/10/07 5:30 PM Page 1
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SI 2008 1-23 9/29/08 12:07 PM Page 1

FALL 2008 VOL. 29 • NO. 11 • $4.00

SELLERS, FOR OVER 30 YEARS

and Solid protection

Medical PPO RX Drug Card Dental PPO Life

Reduced Rates for 2008!

Letter from the Editor

Amanda Tackett, Editor

SPECIAL FALL EDITION 2008

46 A Mall for All

56 High-End Design Inside and Out

4 CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008

1175 West Long Lake Rd. Suite 200 • Troy, MI 48098

Al Chandler Rod Gawel Jason McLelland Teresa Casey

SPECIAL FALL EDITION 2008

106 Make it Fun and

114 Delivering Power

Utilizing the latest

LOCAL 324 MISSION STATEMENT

LOCAL 324’S VALUE PROPOSITION

Local 324 Journeyman

PUBLISHER Kevin N. Koehler

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Mary E. Kremposky

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Matthew J. Austermann

DIRECTORS Stephen J. Auger,

John O'Neil, Sr.,

Jacqueline LaDuke Walters,

Michigan Society of The Communicator

For editorial comment or more information: magazine@cam-online.com.

8 CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008 “Voice Of The Construction Industry”

“ON-TIME ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES ARE

The Trend Millwork Group of Companies

MANUFACTURING AT THE SPEED OF

PHOTO © JOHN E. SOKOLOWSKI/GIFFELS

10 CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008 “Voice Of The Construction Industry”

had all four projects underway at the

and employed approximately 700 con-

Visit us at www.cam-online.com CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008 11

12 CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008 “Voice Of The Construction Industry”

Lean, Green, Thermal -

“It's cheaper than steel or 5 Great Reasons to

Brick Ties & Wall Anchors:

2" Mortar Net:

Your Lean, Green, Thermal Team:

Grace Construction Products

adapted to the building industry,” said

14 CAM MAGAZINE SPECIAL ISSUE 2008 “Voice Of The Construction Industry”

installed on the 16th floor, while a flurry

ued unabated on the existing casino and

its two-story expansion.

The project team’s out-of-the-box think-

ing solved another conundrum: how to

PHOTO © JOHN E. SOKOLOWSKI/GIFFELS

Structural Steel Fabricators, Erectors, Equipment Rentals and Machinery Movers

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bon fiber-reinforced polymer strips. “The

The carbon strips are typically used in

what was there, reacting in real time as far

concerns: installation of massive roof

trusses and maintenance of existing casino

WE HATE of the casino’s main floor. “Hanging the

constantly tailored around the 24/7 oper-

erected the trusses in the casino they had

because building the addition impacted